Good Practice - Inspirational Idea
VinoManAOP2
Strengthening economic resilience of Moselle wine via climate adaptation and grape varietal trials
Summary
The research project VinoManAOP2 aimed to strengthen the economic sustainability of viticulture in Luxembourg’s Appellation d’Origine Protégée (AOP) – Moselle Luxembourgeoise in the face of climate change. Through a series of field trials and climate-related studies, the project explored strategies to maintain wine quality and typicity while adapting to shifting environmental conditions.
Ressources
Viticulture has long played a key socio-economic role in the Moselle Valley, particularly in Luxembourg. Yet climate change increasingly threatens this tradition – impacting grape development, maturity and wine typicity through rising temperatures and more extreme weather. Especially during ripening phases, higher temperatures posed a risk to maintaining the characteristic profile of regional wines.
To address these challenges, VinoManAOP2 – a follow-up to the earlier VinoManAOP project (2019-2021) – was carried out in close collaboration with the Institut Viti-vinicole (IVV) in Remich. The project focused on scientific research to guide long-term adaptation strategies in Luxembourgish wine production.
Key activities included:
- Modelling phenological development, ripening progression, and grape yield under changing climate conditions.
- Field trials on strategies to reduce sunburn damage to grape clusters.
- Studies on harvest timing and its effect on Crémant typicity within the AOP.
- Evaluation of late-ripening varieties for their suitability in Luxembourg’s vineyards.
- A feasibility study on detecting and monitoring drought stress in vines.
By integrating viticulture models with high-resolution climate projections, the project aimed to provide growers with actionable recommendations. The overarching goal was to preserve the identity and competitiveness of wines from the Moselle region – ensuring their continued success despite environmental uncertainty.
Contacts
Serge Fischer