Impacts of climate change on wine business : bibliometric analysis and case study on Mendoza region

Abstract

This master thesis analyses the growing impact of climate change on the global wine industry, focusing on the Mendoza Region, Argentina. We organized the thesis in two articles. The first article presents a detailed bibliometric analysis of scientific publications related to climate change and viticulture. Using data extracted from the Scopus database, this study covers the period from 2010 to 2023, analyzing a corpus of 39 carefully selected articles. The research highlights key publication trends, identifies the most influential authors and institutions, and maps emerging research themes in this field. The study reveals significant growth in literature on this topic, with an annual increase of 13% in publications, underscoring the growing attention to this topic. The main themes identified include adaptation strategies, innovation in viticultural practices, and the economic impact of climate change on the wine industry. The second article focuses on an indepth case study of the Mendoza wine region in Argentina, examining the concrete implications of climate change for the conservation of terroir fertility and the organization of producers. Using a qualitative approach, this research is based on interviews with local producers, particularly at Domaine Bousquet, and a comprehensive document analysis. The study highlights the specific challenges faced by Mendoza's winegrowers, such as decreasing water resources, increasing temperatures, and the increased frequency of extreme weather events. It explores in detail the adaptation strategies implemented, including the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices such as organic, biodynamic, and regenerative agriculture. The article also emphasizes the crucial importance of water management in this semi-arid region, presenting data on river flows and water use by vineyards. By synthesizing these two perspectives, this research offers a holistic view of the challenges posed by climate change to the wine industry. It highlights the importance of innovation, collaboration between industry actors, and the adaptation of public policies to ensure the sustainability of viticulture. The results underscore the need for an integrated approach, combining short-term strategies to address immediate challenges and long-term plans to sustainably transform viticultural practices. This study thus provides insights for researchers, practitioners in the wine sector, and policy makers, contributing to shaping the future of a resilient and sustainable wine industry in the face of climate change.