Prosecco, the sparkling wine produced in the mountain vineyards of Italy, is one of the most beloved alcoholic beverages in Europe, but a recent analysis shows that the crops are “fragile and under threat”. “The risk is not just losing a wine product or seeing a changed landscape, with a negative impact on the entire economy. The risk is losing the history of communities and their cultural roots,” said Dr. Paolo Tarolli, the lead author of the study and professor at the University of Padua.
Prosecco producers are threatened by extreme weather. Heavy and unexpected rains erode the soil in vineyards, while drought makes irrigation almost impossible. These climate instabilities significantly reduce grape production, and prosecco can only be produced in mountainous crops.
The same climate-related reasons threaten olive oil produced in Spain and barley in the United Kingdom.
