Spain's vineyards under threat: Climate change forces tough choices
Climate change is posing a significant threat to the future of one of Spain's most renowned vineyards, Familia Torres. The company warns that within 30 years, it may be forced to abandon its traditional family lands in Catalonia.
Miguel Torres, the 83-year-old leader of Familia Torres, highlights the impact of the climate crisis on traditional grape-growing regions. According to "The Guardian", the company is already implementing irrigation systems in Spain and California and relocating crops to higher altitudes to adapt to the changing climate conditions.
"Warming is killing the trade"
In an interview with the newspaper, Torres stressed that climate change might compel the firm to stop grape cultivation in its current locations within the next 30 to 50 years. Familia Torres allocates 11 per cent of its annual profits towards combating the climate crisis.
The company owns over 2,470 acres of vineyards in Catalonia and other parts of Spain, Chile, and California.
Climate change is affecting grape harvests, which now occur 10 days earlier than they did several decades ago. Miguel Torres notes that production in some European regions fell by as much as 50 per cent in 2023.
“In the future, if we are to maintain greater harvest continuity, we must stop the warming. Warming is killing the trade,” the Spanish wine producer explained to the newspaper.
The drought disaster in Spain
The effects of climate change are increasingly affecting Spanish wine producers. The Spanish-German wine giant Freixenet, known for producing the famed sparkling wine Cava, reportedly placed 80 per cent of its workers in Catalonia on leave. This decision is a response to a drought persisting for over three years in the region, impacting grape production.
In May 2023, the Spanish government unveiled a 2.2 billion euro plan to assist farmers and consumers in coping with the drought.
The Ministry of Environment allocated 1.4 billion euros to tackle the drought and enhance water availability, while the Ministry of Agriculture provided support totalling 784 million euros to help farmers maintain production and prevent food shortages.
