Horizon Europe IsWINE Project: Isotopic geochemistry for the conservation of water ponds in vineyards

In the EU, changes in precipitation patterns pose challenges for the wine sector, urging it to adapt to changing climate conditions. iSWINE aims to quantify the impact of land management practices on vineyard water availability, providing valuable insights into climate change adaptation. As European winegrowers increasingly recognize the urgency of aligning sustainability practices with economic viability and grape quality, New Zealand vineyards stand out as role models, demonstrating their long-standing commitment to sustainability.

At the intersection of environmental and agricultural sciences, IsWINE will establish two pilots, one in northern Spain and one in New Zealand, to empirically test the correlation between different land management practices and soil moisture, vine water uptake, and vine water use efficiency using isotope geochemistry. This approach will enable significant insights into vineyard resilience and cross-learning between the two regions. EU wine stakeholders will be involved in defining adaptive management measures resulting from the pilots, thereby delivering tangible solutions aligned with the sector.

By generating practical knowledge, IsWINE can provide European vineyards with adaptation measures to balance environmental management and agricultural productivity. These efforts are aligned with the European Green Deal and the Common Agricultural Policy, supporting numerous strategies and two EU Missions of Member States. IsWINE will be organized by three highly qualified institutions.

The outbound phase (24 months) will take place at the University of Auckland under the supervision of Asso. Prof. Luitgard Schwendenmann, the return phase (12 months) will be carried out at the Neiker Technology Centre under the supervision of Dr. Ana Aizpurua, and a secondment stay (3 months) will be carried out at the University of Barcelona under the supervision of Dr. Adrià Barbeta.