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Climate variability links to changes in Rioja wine (Spain)
Domingo F Rasilla1, Raquel Aransay2, Francisco Conde-Oria3
1Departamento de Geografía, Urbanismo y Ordenación del Territorio, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, 39005, Spain.
Abstract:
This study investigates the impact of regional climate changes on the production, quality, chemical composition, and phenological patterns of Rioja wine in Spain from 1993 to 2017. Data from DOCa Rioja and the Marqués de Riscal winery were analyzed in conjunction with meteorological and remote sensing data to provide a comprehensive evaluation. The findings reveal an increase in alcohol content and pH, coupled with a decrease in acidity, correlative to phenological shifts such as earlier grape ripening and reduced leaf canopy. Additionally, a thorough examination of monthly climate anomalies highlights the significance of May in determining harvest outcomes, influenced by the Eastern Atlantic (EA) mode of low-frequency variability. The potential connection between springtime weather conditions and tropical climate variability is also explored.
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