Adapting Viticulture to Climate Change: Impact of Shading in Sicily

Climate change significantly affects viticulture, with noticeable impacts on yield and quality. The increase in average temperatures, often coupled with decreased precipitation, accelerates the phenological development of grapevines, leading to rapid sugar accumulation and concentration and decreased acidity. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of black shading nets with two levels (26% and 40%) on vine phenology, vegetative growth, yield, and grape ripening, as a potential strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of rising temperatures and reduced precipitation. The research was conducted in southwestern Sicily, in the Menfi (AG) area, using Grillo and Syrah grapevines. Black shading nets were applied during the pea-sized berry stage (BBCH 75). The results demonstrated that shading effectively delayed vine phenology and altered grape ripening, with significant reductions in sugar content (up to 10%) and increases in total acidity (up to 10%) at harvest compared to non-shaded vines. However, shading also reduced berry size, resulting in lower cluster weight and yield per plant (up to 15%). These findings highlight the potential of shading nets as a tool for adapting viticulture to climate change, while emphasizing the need to carefully assess their large-scale applicability, considering economic and operational factors.