Novel Insights into Sustainable Viticulture

1. Introduction

Climate change has emerged as the most pervasive and disruptive force confronting global viticulture in the twenty-first century. Incremental shifts in temperature and precipitation, coupled with the escalating frequency and severity of extreme weather events—heatwaves, persistent droughts, untimely frosts, and erratic heavy rainfall—are systematically destabilizing the environmental foundations upon which grape production depends. These climatic pressures directly interfere with fundamental physiological processes, disrupting phenological timing, impairing vegetative vigor and reproductive success, and fundamentally altering the biosynthesis of metabolites that define wine identity and quality. Furthermore, the shifting epidemiological landscape of pests and diseases, combined with the degradation of soil health in many long-cultivated regions, raises profound questions about the long-term viability of established wine-growing areas and the preservation of their unique terroir signatures.

As a perennial crop deeply enmeshed with its geographic and climatic milieu, viticulture now faces an urgent imperative to adapt. Management paradigms and cultivar portfolios developed under the relatively stable climate of the recent past are increasingly inadequate for ensuring consistent yields, predictable fruit composition, and overall environmental stewardship. Consequently, the scientific community is called upon to provide a robust, evidence-based framework that encompasses not only rigorous impact assessments but also a portfolio of actionable adaptation and mitigation strategies. This requires a holistic perspective that extends from the molecular and microbial scales within the soil to the landscape-level provision of ecosystem services.

In response to this pressing need, this Special Issue was conceived to curate cutting-edge, multi-disciplinary research. Its aim is to advance our mechanistic understanding of climate–viticulture interactions, address the core challenges confronting the industry, and translate scientific insight into practical, evidence-based solutions for resilient grape production. Following a rigorous peer-review process, this Issue brings together eight high-quality contributions (summarized below). These studies span a wide thematic range—from long-term climate assessments and abiotic stress physiology to the utilization of genetic resources, vineyard system optimization, sustainable pest and disease management, metabolic regulation of berry quality, and socio-economic drivers of industry transformation. Collectively, they offer a multi-faceted view of the current state of climate adaptation research and provide valuable guidance for the global wine sector.

2. Summary of Contributions

2.1. Climate-Driven Disruptions to Viticultural Systems (Contribution 1)

Contribution 1 examined the link between anomalous weather in 2023 and the prevalence of millerandage across 26 Romanian grape cultivars. Suboptimal flowering conditions—temperatures below 20 °C, excessive rainfall (55 mm), and high humidity—compromised pollination. The study documented pronounced genotypic variation: Pinot gris and Pinot noir exhibited high tolerance (<1% incidence), while Ezerfurtu and Rhin Riesling were severely impacted (>35% incidence). These findings provide a framework for cultivar selection under volatile spring climates.

2.2. Agronomic Countermeasures: Modulating Phenology via Late Pruning (Contribution 2)

Contribution 2 evaluated late winter pruning on Kékfrankos in Hungary’s Eger region. Delaying pruning to the four-leaf stage postponed phenology, reduced alcohol content, retained titratable acidity, and increased beneficial flavan-3-ols. However, the most delayed treatment reduced yields due to lower bunch counts, underscoring the need for calibrated implementation.

2.3. Leveraging Genetic Resources for Durable Pest Resistance (Contribution 3)

Contribution 3 pinpointed a major locus, LH2 on chromosome 17, governing prostrate hair density on the abaxial leaf surface—a trait that deters pathogen invasion. Using QTL mapping and GWAS in a V. vinifera × V. pseudoreticulata hybrid, the locus explained 43% of phenotypic variation and was delimited to a 9.56–10.54 Mbp interval, providing tools for marker-assisted selection for downy mildew resistance.

2.4. Advancing Green Strategies for Biotic Stress Management (Contribution 4)

Contribution 4 evaluated two yeast-based biostimulants as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fungicides (Thiopron (UPL Italia srl, Cesena, Italy), Rame Caffaro Blu WG (Sumitomo Chemical Italia srl, Milan, Italy)) for downy mildew control. Both achieved >93% field efficacy on leaves and clusters. Metabolic profiling revealed distinct modes of action: one enhanced antimicrobial flavonols while the other promoted hydroxycinnamic acids linked to plant defense. This aligns with broader efforts to leverage beneficial soil microorganisms; for instance, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been shown to enhance grapevine resilience to multiple abiotic stresses (drought, salinity, temperature extremes) while also promoting mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR) against soilborne and foliar pathogens [1].

2.5. Environmental Modulation of Grape Berry Quality and Metabolism (Contributions 5–7)

Contribution 5 is a comprehensive review synthesizing knowledge on ester compounds—key volatiles responsible for floral and fruity aromas—and how light, temperature, and water availability interact with viticultural practices to shape ester profiles. Contribution 6 explored genotype × vintage effects on norisoprenoid accumulation in three aromatic cultivars, revealing strong genetic signatures (Muscat > Gewürztraminer) and significant vintage effects for 11 of 14 volatiles, including β-damascenone and β-ionone. Contribution 7 used a fruit-specific illumination device to show that direct light enhances secondary metabolism (particularly flavonoids) throughout berry development, providing a refined basis for managing fruit-zone microclimates.

Collectively, these metabolic studies underscore the need for integrated soil and canopy management. For example, the choice of cover crop species mixtures (grasses, legumes, forbs) differentially modulates soil bacterial and fungal communities, with cascading effects on berry microbiota and, potentially, fruit composition [2]. Moreover, the development of integrated indicators such as the Management Impact on Soil Quality (MISQ)—which assesses soil disturbance, organic matter regeneration, copper ecotoxicity, nutrient use efficiency, and biodiversity—provides a practical framework for holistically evaluating vineyard management practices aimed at optimizing berry quality [3].

2.6. Socio-Economic Dimensions of Sustainable Transition (Contribution 8)

Contribution 8 explored the socio-economic dynamics of sustainable transition through the lens of biodynamic viticulture in France, identifying four distinct professional perspectives—materialist, skeptical, empirical, and hedonic—and revealing that on-farm experimentation and peer-to-peer knowledge exchange are pivotal drivers of adoption. This sociological insight is complemented by bibliometric and meta-analytical reviews showing that while research on ecosystem services and risks in viticulture is expanding, scholarly impact is not merely a function of how many ecosystem services a study covers, but rather its methodological rigor, originality, and practical relevance in solving critical challenges [4]. Furthermore, the translation of scientific knowledge into practice can be accelerated through Model-as-a-Service (MaaS) digital platforms (Alceste (Image Ltd., Toulouse, France)), which deliver accessible decision-support tools for irrigation, phenology forecasting, pest and disease risk prediction, and long-term climate projection, thereby bridging the gap between research and agribusiness [5].

3. Future Outlook and Concluding Remarks

The eight contributions assembled in this Special Issue collectively provide a multi-dimensional and multi-scale exploration of the impacts of climate change on viticulture and present a diverse portfolio of adaptation and mitigation strategies. From harnessing genetic resources and refining agronomic interventions to deploying green protection strategies and understanding the socio-economic drivers of change, these papers deepen our collective understanding of climate-resilient grape production.

Despite these advances, significant knowledge gaps persist, and the challenge posed by a rapidly changing climate continues to evolve. Future research must prioritize several key areas to accelerate the transition toward a sustainable and resilient viticultural future.

(1)

Long-term, multi-environment field trials are essential to capture region-specific responses and develop robust, locally calibrated predictive models.

(2)

Mechanistic studies must move beyond single-stress scenarios to investigate the complex interplay of combined abiotic (e.g., heat + drought) and biotic stresses that characterize real-world field conditions.

(3)

The potential of the soil microbiome, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), as a tool for enhancing stress tolerance and nutrient efficiency must be rigorously evaluated through field-scale trials and integrated into practical management protocols. Recent syntheses highlight that AMF symbiosis enhances grapevine resilience to drought, salinity, and temperature extremes by improving water and nutrient uptake, modulating stress-related pathways, and promoting mycorrhiza-induced resistance (MIR) against pathogens [1]. Future research should prioritize strain selection tailored to specific rootstock–scion combinations and soil conditions, moving beyond controlled studies to validate efficacy under diverse field environments [1].

(4)

The development and validation of integrated, climate-smart viticultural systems—those that synergistically combine precision agriculture, agroecological principles, and biodiversity enhancement—are urgently needed. This includes refining management practices that directly shape soil health and microbial communities. For example, the choice of cover crop species mixtures (grasses, legumes, forbs) has been shown to differentially modulate soil bacterial and fungal communities, with effects that can cascade to influence the berry microbiota [2]. Similarly, integrated indicators like the Management Impact on Soil Quality (MISQ), which assesses soil disturbance, organic matter regeneration, copper ecotoxicity, nutrient efficiency, and biodiversity, offer a practical framework for holistically evaluating and guiding the sustainability of vineyard management decisions [3].

(5)

The power of digital transformation should be fully harnessed through the development and deployment of advanced decision-support platforms, such as Model-as-a-Service (MaaS) platforms. These platforms can translate complex agro-environmental models into accessible digital services for irrigation scheduling, phenology forecasting, pest and disease risk prediction, and long-term climate projection, thereby enabling data-driven, precision management at scale [5].

(6)

Finally, interdisciplinary research that forges robust links between the natural and social sciences will be crucial for addressing the policy, economic, and behavioral barriers to widespread adoption. Bibliometric and meta-analytical reviews of the field confirm that while research on ecosystem services and risks in viticulture is expanding, scholarly impact is not just a function of how many ecosystem services a study covers, but rather its methodological rigor, originality, and practical relevance in solving critical challenges [4].

The global wine sector stands at a critical crossroads. Navigating the path toward a resilient and sustainable future will require sustained collaboration among researchers, growers, industry bodies, and policymakers worldwide. We hope that the research presented in this Special Issue will serve not only as a foundation for future scientific inquiry but also as a catalyst for the innovation and collective action needed to safeguard the future of viticulture.