Crops affected ...

Although crop harvests are projected to increase in the rest of Europe (including northern Spain), in southern Spain they are expected to decrease. Combined with the significant decrease in rainfall expected, this could have serious impact throughout Spain.

In the wine-growing regions, the changing climate is affecting harvesting seasons, as well as making wine more alcoholic. Pancho Campo, president of The Wine Academy of Spain, interviewed by The Wine Academy (http://www.thewineacademy.com/web/eng/articulo01.php?id=175), comments:

"This year, having visited numerous wine producing regions of Spain, I have had the chance to verify that it is an almost unanimous opinion that the climate is changing, harvests are being brought forward, drought is a tangible problem, fruit has a higher sugar content therefore producing more alcoholic wines, and pH is difficult to control."

In 2006 the first world congress about global warming in the wine industry was held in Barcelona - attendance from the Spanish wine sector was disappointing, but just 8 months later things have changed and the Spanish have shown a lot more interest. The planned 2008 congress has been sponsored and backed by the OIV as well as the Ministry of the Environment.