However, Chile, whose central region has enormous biodiversity, has a climatic advantage, the Humboldt Current, which allows temperatures to be maintained in the world. This allows them to maintain the cultivation of traditional vines, such as Carmernere, which, although of French origin, is planted almost exclusively in this South American country.
“In Chile, unlike other wine regions, for example, we haven’t entered into vine change programs. In Bordeaux (France), they are experimenting with the test of other strains to face the problem they have due to climate change”, explained Gonzalez.
Lira admits that, although to a lesser extent than other regions of the world, the Chilean wine region is also suffering and will suffer the effects of climate change, so there is also research work to make plants more resistant.
Consumer driven changes
For Lira, the main changes that the wine industry may face in Chile and in the world will come from consumers, who have become increasingly demanding when it comes to consuming.
The sustainability manager points out that the entire value chain, not just wine production. For example, vineyards are normally neighboring areas of enormous biodiversity, so companies have an area that protects this aspect. For example, Concha y Toro has 4,200 hectares of protected native forest that accompanies the vineyards to increase their resilience and regulate their water cycles.