DryVineyard

Inspiration

Viticulture is an important socio-economic factor for Luxembourg and climate plays a crucial role in viticulture, as meteorological conditions largely control physiology of vines as well as yield and wine quality. The 2018-2020 and 2022 vintages demonstrated a trend towards drought stress during the vegetation periods, highlighting the strong demand for efficient viticultural measures to adapt to these climate change impacts.

Innovation

In the future, the viticultural sector in the Appellation d’origine protégée (AOP) – Moselle Luxembourgeoise will face new challenges from long-lasting rain deficit in combination with high radiation and temperatures. To safeguard economic sustainability and wine typicity, potential adaptation measures will be tested.

DryVineyard will focus on implementing cultural measures for improved soil water conservation, such as cover crops, and viti-forestry and viti-photovoltaic measures. Future water supply will be calculated based on high-resolution climate change projections. Furthermore, LIST researchers will test the potential to mitigate the impact of water deficit conditions via the use of more drought stress-adapted rootstocks, as well as the potential of field grafting as a possibility for cultivar change towards more climate resilient cultivars without losing the established root system.

Impact

DryVineyard, comprising LIST and its partner, the Institut viti-vinicole, will provide active support to winegrowers, consisting of adequate adaptation strategies for Luxembourg’s viticulture in the face of the accelerating impact of climate change, focusing on increasingly drier summer conditions.

Based on their strong expertise and experience in previous projects, the DryVineyard team will deliver scientific novelty and innovation by combining projections of future water supply with practical viticulture adaptation measures to safeguard the economic sustainability of the sector.