Impacts of climate change induced drought and adaptation strategies in wine-growing in the Rhine Valley (France, Germany, Switzerland)

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to investigate the adaptation measures taken by wine-growers to adapt to water stress and the factors influencing these choices in the cross-border region of the Upper Rhine. The cross-country comparison shows similar adaptation strategies, in spite of regulatory differences. Actually, the differences are much more pronounced at the local scale, independently on the country. This situation can be explained by technical constraints at the local scale and social constraints at the regional scale, which are often hidden by the first obstacle encountered: the PDO specifications. We conclude that adaptation strategies need to better consider the local scale and the identity and specificity of the Rhine vineyards.