Impact of climate change effects on grapevine through a multi-year analysis in the Chianti Classico Area (Italy)

Authors

  • Marco Ammoniaci CREA—Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Viticulture and Enology, Viale Santa Margherita, 80, 52100 Arezzo, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0658-6981
  • Matteo Voltarelli CREA—Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Viticulture and Enology, Viale Santa Margherita, 80, 52100 Arezzo, Italy https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0623-0300
  • Massimiliano Biagi Barone Ricasoli S.p.A. Società Agricola, Piazza Goldoni, 2 – 50123 Firenze, Italy
  • Fabio Cascella Barone Ricasoli S.p.A. Società Agricola, Piazza Goldoni, 2 – 50123 Firenze, Italy
  • Claudio Carapelli Barone Ricasoli S.p.A. Società Agricola, Piazza Goldoni, 2 – 50123 Firenze, Italy
  • Alessandra Zombardo CREA—Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Viticulture and Enology, Viale Santa Margherita, 80, 52100 Arezzo, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1613-9667
  • Sergio Puccioni CREA—Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Viticulture and Enology, Viale Santa Margherita, 80, 52100 Arezzo, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8653-7620
  • Paolo Storchi CREA—Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Viticulture and Enology, Viale Santa Margherita, 80, 52100 Arezzo, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7534-5634
  • Rita Perria CREA—Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Viticulture and Enology, Viale Santa Margherita, 80, 52100 Arezzo, Italy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4591-4370

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36253/ijam-3493

Keywords:

Grape quality, Time series analysis, Ripening trends, Growing Degree Days (GDDs), Sangiovese

Abstract

Recent years have been increasingly characterized by the prevalence of extreme weather events due to climate change. Among these events, record-high temperatures and extended periods of drought are challenging the conventional viticulture techniques across many traditional grapevine-producing districts worldwide. The present study analyzes the data recorded over 16 years (2008-2023) in Chianti Classico, a renowned area in Tuscany (Italy) whose economy is based not only on the wine trade but also on the induced effects generated, such as wine tourism. The analysis correlated the historical climate patterns with the analytical profiles of the grapes at harvest. The results highlighted how increasing temperatures lead to an anticipation of the harvest date and, accordingly, a significant variation in grape chemical characteristics. This advance is linked mainly to achieving specific sugar concentrations in relation to the winery’s oenological objectives. As a result, organic acids and the phenolic fraction, along with their extractability, play a less decisive role and remain uncontrolled, potentially making the transformation process more challenging to manage.

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2025-12-31

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Ammoniaci, M., Voltarelli, M., Biagi, M., Cascella, F., Carapelli, C., Zombardo, A., … Perria, R. (2025). Impact of climate change effects on grapevine through a multi-year analysis in the Chianti Classico Area (Italy). Italian Journal of Agrometeorology, (2), 95–105. https://doi.org/10.36253/ijam-3493

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No. 2 (2025)

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RESEARCH ARTICLES

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Copyright (c) 2025 Marco Ammoniaci, Matteo Voltarelli, Massimiliano Biagi, Fabio Cascella, Claudio Carapelli, Alessandra Zombardo, Sergio Puccioni, Paolo Storchi, Rita Perria

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