Our favorite vintages and their precarious mountainside homes are at
risk due to climate change, environmental scientists warn

Date:
July 14, 2023
Source:
Cell Press
Summary:
Tucked into the hillsides of Italy, Portugal, and Spain, some
of the world's most famous -- and most difficult to maintain --
vineyards are heralded for their unique flavor profiles and
centuries of tradition. But as extreme weather and changing
socioeconomic conditions make this so- called 'heroic viticulture'
even more challenging, scientists worry these grapes and their
cultural histories are at risk. Researchers argue that farmers and
scientists must work together to protect some of the world's most
celebrated wines.


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==========================================================================
FULL STORY ========================================================================== Tucked into the hillsides of Italy, Portugal, and Spain, some of the
world's most famous -- and most difficult to maintain -- vineyards are
heralded for their unique flavor profiles and centuries of tradition. But
as extreme weather and changing socioeconomic conditions make this
so-called "heroic viticulture" even more challenging, scientists worry
these grapes and their cultural histories are at risk. In a Backstory publishing on July 14 in the journal iScience,researchers argue that
farmers and scientists must work together to protect some of the world's
most celebrated wines.

"The risk is not only losing an agricultural product or seeing a landscape change, negatively impacting the local economy," write the authors from
the University of Padova. "The risk is losing entire communities' history
and their cultural roots." Vineyards are considered "heroic viticulture"
sites if they have a slope steeper than 30 percent, are located on small islands or at an altitude higher than 500 meters above sea level, or if
they incorporate vines grown on terraces. The name "heroic" originated
from the inherent difficulty of cultivating and harvesting crops in these landscapes. Some of the most famous, centuries-old examples of heroic viticulture include the Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene
and the traditional vineyards of Pantelleria Island, both of which are protected by UNESCO.

"The great effort required to manage these areas reinforces the specific
human- environment connection," write the authors. "This is why they
are recognized as cultural uniquenesses of primary historical and social importance, where traditional knowledge is still the determining element."
In the Backstory, the authors list soil degradation and drought as the
biggest climate change-related risks to heroic viticulture. They also
argue that the vineyards face several significant socioeconomic barriers.

"The last half past century has been characterized by rural exodus and
a gradual abandonment of mountain landscapes," the authors write. "The
new generation is unwilling to continue working under extreme conditions
if economic benefits are insignificant." In order to protect heroic viticulture sites, the authors suggest several forms of potential
solutions, from strategic communications designed to unite scientists,
farmers, and consumers to onsite solutions like small water storage
systems integrated into the vineyard landscapes that prevent runoff and
retain water for future usage. They also underline the importance of
education, including "educating the new generation about the benefits of
rural reality, the need to preserve cultural heritage, live in equilibrium
with the environment, and to have a sustainable approach to agriculture."
"The key to success lies in combining the traditional knowledge of
winemakers with innovation and scientific rigor," write the authors. "In
this way, farms can work closely with scientists to optimize investments
for a more functional, sustainable, and safe agricultural landscape --
a winning alliance to face these diverse natural and anthropogenic
challenges."
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Story Source: Materials provided by Cell_Press. Note: Content may be
edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Paolo Tarolli, Wendi Wang, Anton Pijl, Sara Cucchiaro, Eugenio
Straffelini. Heroic viticulture: Environmental and socioeconomic
challenges of unique heritage landscapes. iScience, 2023; 107125
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107125 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230714113430.htm

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