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The Benedicto and Moribel grape varieties, parent and descendant of Tempranillo, have shown promising results in trials when it comes to adapting to climate change. Researchers at the Institute of Viticulture and Oenology of Castilla-La Mancha (IVICAM) have conducted studies to test different grape varieties that can produce good wines even in extreme heat and water shortages. As Spain is increasingly suffering from such weather events, the need for agriculture to find ways to adapt to climate change has become a major focus. Studies warn that up to 90 per cent of traditional wine regions in coastal and lowland areas of Spain could disappear by the end of the century due to excessive drought and more frequent heatwaves.
Tempranillo is planted on over 200,000 hectares of Spain's vineyards. Higher temperatures and water stress could bring about its flowering, ripening and harvest more than ten days earlier than today by 20250. The resulting lower acidity levels and lower concentrations of important components such as anthocyanins could affect the balance and quality of the finished wines.
In addition to adaptations such as moving to higher altitudes and changes in pruning, research is also being carried out into alternative clones and grape varieties to safeguard viticulture in the face of rising temperatures. As part of his doctoral thesis, Sergio Serrano Parra showed that Benedicto even outperformed Tempranillo in some qualitative analyses under such conditions and that Moribel has a higher acidity than Tempranillo. Both grape varieties also performed well in comparative tastings. They show a similar aromatic profile to Tempranillo and were favoured over it by the tasters. According to Parra's study, Moribel and Benedicto are therefore in a position to play an important role in the Spanish wine industry.
(al / Source: decanter)