Projected impacts of climate change on viticulture over French wine regions using downscaled CMIP6 multi-model data

Abstract

Climate change is a major challenge for the French wine industry. Climatic conditions in French vineyards have already changed and will continue to evolve impacting viticulture.This study aims to analyse the evolution of agro- and eco-climatic indices based on phenology simulation of French wine-growing regions. This evolution was analysed on a recent-past period (1962–1991 to 1992–2021) using SAFRAN climate data and on a future projected period (1985–2014 to 2041–2070) with two SSP trajectories (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). A set of 19 CMIP6 climate models downscaled at 8 km grid resolution over France coupled with three phenological and a water balance model were used. Phenological model parameters and training system characteristics were adapted to each region to match as much as possible current practices.Temperatures during the growing season have increased by +1 °C to +2.1 °C since the second half of the 20th century and could rise to +3.7 °C in regions around the Mediterranean by 2070. The inter-model variance concerning the precipitation is high, a significant change (decrease) in precipitation during the grapevine growing season is observed only for the regions of western France (Oceanic climate) over the period 2040–2071 with the SSP5 trajectory. All simulated phenological stages have shifted toward earlier dates. Their occurrence should be even earlier by 2070 with an average advance of up to 22 days for the mid-veraison of Pinot noir in eastern France. The theoretical maturity date (sugar content) should also be advanced from 19 to 30 days depending on the considered region and SSP. Thermal conditions closer to the photosynthetic optimum should promote onset by the early second half of the 21st century. The increase in both the number of hot days and grapevine water deficit during the period of fruit development should impact grape production in quality and quantity in all wine-growing regions. Spring frost projections show no significant change in risk for the second half of the 21st century, compared to current conditions.