Struggling Wineries in Italy, Greece, Spain Battle Devastating Heatwave: A Heartbreaking Impact on Production
This year’s wine harvest on Greece’s popular island of Santorini is underway, yet local winemaker Yiannis Paraskevopoulos faces grim prospects. Unprecedented temperatures threaten the Assyrtiko grape, vital for the island’s famed white wines. Output at Paraskevopoulos’s Gaia Wines plummeted to nearly one-third of 2022 levels last year, and this year’s harvest is predicted to drop to one-sixth of 2022 levels. Paraskevopoulos warns the Assyrtiko grape could be extinct by 2040—a once-optimistic timeline now seems dire.
The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) reported a 10% decrease in global wine production in 2023, the lowest in over 60 years, citing climate challenges. Europe’s leading wine producers, including Greece, Italy, and Spain, saw sharp declines due to adverse weather conditions. Higher production costs have driven up consumer prices, shrinking wine consumption to its lowest since 1996.
Winemakers are adapting by altering production methods, such as changing vineyard orientations and improving irrigation. However, Paraskevopoulos notes that places like Santorini, heavily reliant on tourism, are facing dual pressures from climate change and shifting labor markets. The challenges extend to other winemaking regions in Europe, where rising tourism diverts investment from viticulture.
The European Union has initiated discussions on wine policy, aiming to mitigate the sector’s risks. The industry’s future hinges on timely and effective interventions, as the sector remains a significant contributor to the EU’s economy. As weather extremes and other pressures mount, actions taken now will determine the fate of traditional wine-producing regions and their iconic grape varieties.
Original Story https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/23/wineries-in-italy-greece-spain-battle-extreme-heat-lower-production.html
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