Adaptation strategies of winegrowers to climate change: Comparison of Languedoc Roussillon (France) and Tuscany (Italy) wine regions

The relationship between wine products and the concepts of quality, identity, place, typicality and terroir is rooted in a deep socio-cultural and agricultural connection. Today, that bond, once considered incontrovertible, is increasingly at risk of weakening or fading due to the impacts of Climate Change. In light of this, our study aims to explore wine growers’ perceptions of these effects and examine the adaptation strategies, both planned and already implemented, chosen by winegrowers. The phenomenon was investigated at both national and regional levels in two of the world’s most significant wine-producing countries, namely France and Italy, focusing specifically on producers in the Languedoc-Roussillon and Tuscany wine regions. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with twenty-three wine producers, revealing a high level of awareness regarding the severe climatic impacts, with coping strategies varying by region. However, these adaptive approaches often conflict with the rigid product specifications of the designations of origin, which have remained largely unchanged over time, showing limited flexibility in response to an evolving climate, society and market. In this context, the study underscores the urgent need for dynamic regulatory frameworks to support the adaptation efforts and measures developed by European wine producers.