ABSTRACT. This paper analyses how terroir-driven wine producers in Portugal’s Douro Valley address current and emerging sustainability challenges while preserving cultural authenticity and the unique identity of their wines. Moving beyond conventional sustainability frameworks centred on impact mitigation, the study applies the concept of regenerative leadership - a proactive approach that seeks to restore and enhance ecological systems, cultural heritage, and community relationships. Based on a multiple-case study of six wineries across the three Douro sub-regions namely Douro Superior (DS), Baixo Corgo (BC) e Cima Corgo (CC), the present research identifies key practices within five strategic dimensions: ecological, cultural/heritage, social/community, economic, and symbolic/terroir. These include soil regeneration, low-intervention winemaking, conservation of terroir and old vineyards, community engagement, and heritage valorisation. Findings reveal that regenerative leadership fosters a deliberate balance between tradition and innovation, positioning Douro wine producers as both custodians of heritage and agents of ecological and cultural renewal. By documenting diverse practices and strategies, this study contributes to the academic discourse on the sustainability transition of terroir-driven wines, offering insights into adaptive and regenerative approaches that strengthen the sustainability and resilience of historic wine regions.

ABSTRACT. The French Appellation of Origin system (AOC/AOP) is based on the delimitation of zones in which grapes and subsequent wines meet production criteria (pedo-climatic conditions of production, varieties, growing and wine-making practices) expressing the links with the terroir of origin. In other words, wines produced in those zones should express a typicity associated with their origin. In addition, within a specific Appellation zone, only delimited plots are authorized to produce wines from this Appellation. Criteria, including pedo-climatic conditions are included in the set of conditions of production of the Appellation, recognised by law. However, the ongoing climate change is already affecting and will further affect the growing conditions of grapevines, with consequences on the yield, ripening processes and fruit composition at harvest, modifying the organoleptic profiles of wines and consequently the suitability of some areas to produce some types of wines. As a result, at the level of one Appellation zone, some non-delimited plots may become suitable to produce Appellation wines while delimited plots may lose some suitability. Considering these evolutions, INAO (National Institute of Appellation of Origin) has requested a group of experts to deliver methodological proposals in order to take into account the evolution of climatic conditions into the plot delimitation process. The group includes climatologists, agronomists, geneticists, soil science and “terroir” experts, all involved in climate change studies. Based on their expertise, they delivered a comprehensive analysis of how addressing this issue from a scientific point of view. They also proposed some practical guidelines to consider climate change in the delimitation process. Among others, these guidelines are related to the characterization of climate change in the considered Appellation, to the vulnerability assessment of the area, to the analysis of various adaptation levers in addition to the modification of the delimited plots, to a risk assessment of the delimitation modifications, to the involvement of climatologists in the delimitation expert groups and finally to the training of INAO delimitation staff to climatic data and tools management.

ABSTRACT. The hilly territory of Conegliano Valdobbiadene is the historic area where Prosecco has developed and gained international recognition. This area has been the subject of detailed zoning studies, initiated in the 1990s (Tomasi and Gaiotti, 2011) and updated in the following years (Tomasi et al., 2013; Tomasi and Gaiotti, 2020). These studies led to the definition of 19 macrozones, whose distinct morphological, climatic, and cultural characteristics allow differentiation in the compositional and organoleptic traits of the wines. With the aim of further promote the unique features and the “crus” of this viticultural area, a new zoning project has recently been undertaken to characterize the “Rive” - the steepest and most vocated hills, where viticulture is more challenging but also higher in quality. Based on soil types and morphological characteristics, nine Rive have been selected for characterization over the 2025–2027 period. The zoning methodology, already applied in previous studies (Tomasi D., Gaiotti F. & Jones G., 2013), involves climatic and pedological characterization, as well as the analysis of the Glera grape agronomic and qualitative response, including the vinification of wines from all zones following standardized protocols. Additionally, soil microbiome characterization will be performed to investigate the potential effect of microbial terroir on grape and wine quality. Preliminary data, concerning the agronomic and qualitative responses of Glera during the first year of investigation, indicate marked differences between the Rive under study. Both the macrostructure and the aromatic composition of the wines reflect variations attributable to the climatic, pedological, and topographic characteristics of the specific Riva of origin. The study aims to both emphasize the unique characteristics of the territory and acknowledge the work of the vinegrowers, recognizing through this additional designation their commitment and the longstanding quality tradition in this area.

ABSTRACT. Sustainability is a challenge faced across all sectors of society, considering resource use, impact mitigation, and increasing pressures from climate change. In the wine sector, a key challenge lies in how to prepare for climate-change adaptation and respond to the extreme events occurring worldwide while preserving each terroir’s identity. This study aims to assess the potential for integrating sustainability guidelines into wine Denominations of Origin (DOs), combining environmental aspects and terroir issues. The research was conducted in two Brazilian DOs: Altos de Pinto Bandeira and Campos de Cima da Serra (under development). Several wine-producing regions worldwide have adopted sustainability programs; however, the integration of sustainability practices into geographical indications is not evident, particularly regarding Technical Specification Documents (Cadernos de Especificações Técnicas, CET). The inclusion of sustainability criteria in geographical indications has been discussed within the European Union. The recent EU Regulation 2024/1143, for instance, proposes aligning sustainability requirements with geographical indications. In Brazil, previous studies have identified a series of initiatives involving sustainable viticulture, yet there is a gap in systematized protocols addressing sector-specific challenges. One example is PIUP (Integrated Grape Production), based on the principles of Brazil’s Integrated Agricultural Production System (PI Brasil), an important initiative that is nevertheless limited to viticulture practices. The study was structured into: (1) diagnosis of the current situation; (2) identification of potential and convergence points; (3) proposal of sustainability criteria; and (4) validation of criteria with producers. The diagnosis was based on the BaccuS framework and adopted a broad scope, covering environmental, social, economic, political-institutional, and territorial dimensions. The assessment considered 100 indicators, summarized into 10 synthetic indicators. For each indicator, the current situation and potential actions were identified. The diagnosis revealed multiple ongoing initiatives across all wineries. These were systematized into four main categories based on converging practices: (1) circular economy, (2) biodiversity, (3) agricultural practices, and (4) valorization of the DO and territory. The proposal suggests establishing a multi-year planning approach across these four themes, with annual evaluation. Planning should be carried out both at the individual winery level and at the regional scale. The proposal will be included in the Product Specification of the new Campos de Cima da Serra DO and is currently under review for inclusion in the Altos de Pinto Bandeira DO. This proposal can be a guideline for other wine regions in order to include sustainability criteria aligned with terroir issues.

ABSTRACT. Even if there are historic evidence of the cultivation of the vine in Normandy (France) before the XXth, the winegrowing area had completely disappeared. The climate change has fostered the desire, for new project-holders, to plant vine and they would now like to acquire, through the association gathering them, a geographical indication to promote their wines. A survey carried out in 2024 towards 31 new winegrowers allowed to produce a comprehensive update of their profiles, of their plots, and of their current or futures practices regarding viticulture, winemaking, and marketing. They were also questioned on the association objective and governance. The results analyse and highlight the assets of these new producers as well as the topics they must collectively work on, to be able to apply for a geographical indication from the National Institute of Origin Appellations (France) and EU regulation.

ABSTRACT. Over the last decade, the liberalization of EU regulations on planting rights has stimulated the emergence and development of local vineyards in regions where professional vineyards almost disappeared since WWII (Meloni and Swinnen, 2016). In this communication, we analyse the renaissance of professional vineyards in the French region Ile de France since the late 1990 to the present, and the role of its registration and recognition as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) in 2020. It thus seeks to revive what was, in the 18th century, France's largest vineyard, with more than 25,000 hectares of vines (Lachiver, 1982). The analysis explains how the appellation accreditation process translates into dynamic, constantly evolving discursive strategies to redefine the concept of terroir, its geographical characterization, the typical characteristics of the wines it refers to, the interests of the actors promoting it, as well as how they position themselves in relation to each other. Wine growing in the Paris region is characterized by a wide variety of stakeholders, including municipal associations seeking to rebuild rural-urban links, wine brotherhoods reviving a wine-growing past, neo-ruralists engaging in wine-growing projects, and farmers diversifying their crops. All these projects seek to promote their production, which contributes to the redefinition of micro-terroirs with distinctive characteristics and economic, cultural, or landscape value. It is the strength of local identities and affiliations that makes the terroir relevant, both as a rooting in a physical and human environment (Wilson, 1998), as a space for collective territorial projects through the will of its protagonists (Hinnewinkel, 2004), and as an economic asset of a wine's quality, through its heritage, natural, and cultural foundations (Stengel and Yengué, 2020). With the challenge of bringing together initiatives around the idea of a terroir that symbolizes the wine-growing roots of the Ile de France region, the registration of the PGI is accompanied by the affirmation of a mosaic of micro-terroirs where new links are being forged between local wine-growing and the local consumers around them. We have thus observed the construction of a qualitative hierarchy in which each social group seeks to distinguish itself in order to assert a typicality and quality concomitant with its micro-terroir.

ABSTRACT. This study examines the influence of human factors on the configuration of wine route terroirs in São Paulo State, emphasizing the emergence of a modern producer profile. According to the OIV definition, terroir results from interactions between natural elements (soil, climate, topography) and human factors (cultural practices, know-how). In São Paulo, viticulture has expanded significantly over the past decade, driven by technological innovations such as double pruning and specialized technical assistance, enabling the production of high-quality wines from Vitis vinifera varieties. The research aims to map terroirs across five main wine routes, characterize traditional and modern producer profiles, and analyze how the new profile influences varietal selection, vineyard management, and marketing strategies. Methodology includes edaphoclimatic mapping, varietal inventory, interviews, and statistical correlation of natural and human variables. Expected outcomes include integrated terroir maps, evidence of producer impact on typicity, and recommendations for territorial valorization and climate resilience. Findings reinforce terroir as a socio-scientific construct, highlighting the role of human intervention in shaping identity, competitiveness, and adaptation strategies in São Paulo’s wine sector.

ABSTRACT. Agroforestry in vineyards has been proposed as a strategy to buffer climatic stress, potentially moderating microclimate and enhancing water availability for the vines. However, the net effects of tree proximity on grapevine water status remain unclear due to potential competition for water and nutrients. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of tree proximity on grapevine growth and physiology. To do so, measurements were conducted on three sites where grapevines were grown in close proximity to tree rows. Predawn water potential and stomatal conductance, and grape quality and yield parameters were assessed on these sites as a function of distance to the tree row. On one site, where Vitis vinifera L. ‘Riesling’ was grown north of a row of field maples (Acer campestre) in a vineyard in Geisenheim, Germany, root systems of six vines were excavated and 3D-digitized in situ. Results showed that vines closer to the trees exhibited lower stomatal conductance and more negative pre-dawn leaf water potentials, and lower berry weight and yield. Root architecture analysis revealed a pronounced tendency for roots to grow away from the trees, with limited root proliferation toward the tree row, indicating growth limitation due to competition for water. These findings suggest that competition for water has a stronger influence on vine water balance and root development than potential facilitative effects, such as hydraulic lift or shading. This study provides a foundation for further research on tree–vine interactions in vineyard agroforestry, offering insights into root spatial dynamics and water competition under varying environmental conditions.

ABSTRACT. Climate change exerts a major influence on wine production and quality. Several adaptation strategies have been proposed for vineyards over the short and long term, including the modification of varieties, adjustments to training systems, and soil management practices. Some of these viticultural levers may also enhance soil carbon sequestration, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation. In this study, several adaptation and mitigation levers were tested—either individually or in combination—within the same vineyard plot: increased trunk height, reduced canopy height, varietal and intravarietal diversity, and mulching. Significant effects of these levers were observed on parameters influenced by climate change, such as cluster temperature, phenology, and berry composition. The combination of these levers conferred the full range of observed benefits on a single plot, without evidence of cumulative effects. Varietal and intravarietal diversity emerged as the most influential factor. Preliminary trials further demonstrated consumer acceptance of varietal changes within the context of Protected Designation of Origin wines.

ABSTRACT. The wine industry is increasingly exposed to the combined effects of climate change, resource scarcity, and rising consumer expectations regarding environmental responsibility. Extreme weather events, water shortages, and fluctuating temperatures are threatening vineyard productivity, altering grape composition, and disrupting the stability of traditional production systems. As a result, wineries and supply chains must evolve toward more sustainable, resilient, and data-driven management models, integrating energy, water, and environmental efficiency into their operational and strategic decisions. Building on the benchmarking methodology proposed by Ciotti et al. (2024) for assessing energy efficiency in wineries through Energy Performance Indicators (EnPIs) and outsourcing indices, this research extends that framework to include water-related dimensions, offering a comprehensive view of resource efficiency and sustainability in the wine supply chain. The original Ciotti et al. approach demonstrated the value of categorizing wineries by process typology and energy intensity, allowing comparative benchmarking across different production contexts. In this study, the same systemic and modular methodology is applied to water management, integrating insights from water footprint analysis (Lamastra et al., 2014; Rinaldi et al., 2016) and supply chain optimization under water constraints (Aivazidou et al., 2022). The resulting model enables the simultaneous evaluation of energy and water performance, highlighting their strong interdependence in achieving both environmental and economic sustainability. An extended benchmarking layer correlates energy and water consumption profiles with production scale, process configuration, and technological maturity, identifying key efficiency patterns and bottlenecks across the supply chain. Empirical results from a sample of Italian wineries reveal significant variability in both energy and water performance, emphasizing the influence of organizational maturity, climatic conditions, and process design. Smaller wineries tend to exhibit higher variability and sensitivity to external factors, while larger operations show more stable yet resource-intensive profiles. Overall, the extended Ciotti et al. methodology provides a holistic and scalable framework for assessing and improving sustainability performance in the wine sector. Its application can be extended internationally and offer valuable decision-making support information to wineries, consortia, policy makers and sustainability standards to guide climate mitigation actions, optimize energy and water efficiency, and develop coordinated strategies throughout the wine supply chain.

ABSTRACT. Climate change is profoundly transforming wine supply chains, affecting grape yields, wine quality, resource availability, and consequently the economic stability of all actors operating within the sector. Rising temperatures, irregular rainfall patterns, and the increasing frequency of extreme events such as droughts, frosts, and hailstorms are altering vine physiology and wine sensory profiles. These shifts are forcing wine supply chain actors to rethink their strategies and management models to respond effectively to new environmental challenges and to meet consumer expectations, which are becoming increasingly sensitive to issues of sustainability and authenticity. In this context, climate resilience has become a strategic lever to ensure production continuity and long-term adaptive capacity. As highlighted by Wieland et al. (2023), resilient supply chains can be understood as dynamic socio-ecological systems capable of learning and evolving through three key stages: persistence, adaptation, and transformation. According to Follmann et al. (2024), resilience and sustainability are closely interconnected dimensions: the former enables organizations to effectively respond to external shocks, while the latter ensures a lasting balance between economic performance, social equity, and environmental protection. The wine supply chain provides a suitable empirical context for investigating how a dynamic socio-ecological system manifests and evolves through growing risk awareness, active stakeholder engagement, strategic investment in resources and capabilities, and the diffusion of best management practices. Building on these theoretical foundations, our research presents a comparative analysis of adaptation and resilience strategies to climate change implemented by wineries in the Bordeaux region and Northern Italy. The results reveal that the two areas have adopted distinct approaches, often shaped by cultural frameworks, governance structures, and national regulations. Nevertheless, significant points of convergence emerge, including the shared need to rethink the ampelographic landscape and to reinterpret the concept of terroir in a contemporary perspective, preserving its identity while adapting to evolving climatic conditions and market expectations.

ABSTRACT. Context and objective: The increase in drought across most of the world's current wine-growing regions due to climate change is raising the issue of sustainable water management. While the water footprint (WF) is an essential indicator for quantifying freshwater appropriation, its application in the wine sector is not currently the result of an international methodological consensus and lacks standardisation. This study aims to compare three main water footprint reference frameworks based on field data: the volumetric approach (WFN), the water balance approach (HB) and the LCA-Impact method (AWARE). Methodology: The study uses a multi-year global dataset covering various soil and climate conditions, explicitly distinguishing between irrigated and non-irrigated systems. We calculated WF measures using site-specific data and global gridded datasets (AgERA5, HWSD). The assessment focuses on the grape production phase (not including winemaking), identified as the main contributor to the sector's water footprint. Expected results: Preliminary analyses suggest significant differences between methodologies. We expect the standard WFN approach to overestimate green WF in dry farming regions by not taking into account stomatal regulation in the event of water deficit. Conversely, the HB method should offer greater accuracy by modelling dynamic water storage in the soil. With regard to irrigated systems, the LCA approach demonstrates that “volume consumed” is not synonymous with “environmental impact”, which can significantly alter sustainability rankings depending on the scarcity of local watersheds. Conclusion: This research argues that a robust international standard cannot rely solely on generic coefficients. It advocates a multi-level approach that integrates soil water dynamics and local scarcity contexts to ensure fair comparative assessment and guide adaptation strategies in a future where water will become increasingly scarce.