Understanding resilience capacities in rural AGRO-Industries: Evidence from Spanish wineries

Spanish wineries, deeply rooted in rural territories, are increasingly exposed to overlapping economic, environmental, and social challenges—ranging from declining consumption and rising production costs to labor shortages and climate-induced disruptions. As key actors in rural economies, their resilience is critical not only for their own sustainability but also for the vitality of the regions they support. This study analyzes the resilience capacities of 411 Spanish wineries, using the three-dimensional framework of robustness, adaptability, and transformability. Through survey data and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) modeling, we examine how internal attributes—such as size, structure, innovation, and rural commitment—interact with perceived external challenges to shape strategic responses. Results show that robustness is reinforced by reliance on local resources but constrained by diversification and rural engagement. Conversely, adaptability and transformability are enhanced by diversity, environmental awareness, and rural involvement, although traditional assumptions about innovation and networks show limited impact. These findings offer new insights into the strategic behavior of rural agro-industries under pressure and highlight the need for nuanced policy approaches that support both structural stability and adaptive change in the face of increasing uncertainty. • Resilience assessed in 411 Spanish wineries under multiple challenges. • Three dimensions: robustness, adaptability, and transformability. • Robustness relies on local resources but low diversification. • Adaptability and change driven by diversity and rural commitment. • Innovation and networking show limited impact on resilience.