Climate change, resources and limitations for Georgian viniculture

The main goal of the activity of WP4 - Georgian Viticulture and Winemaking: From Modernity to Past (Viticulture: Climate, genetic resources) in the context of the POPULARIZATION OF GEORGIAN GRAPE AND WINE CULTURE Project was to study of the effects Climate Changes on Georgian viticulture by means of a deep and detailed agrometeorological analysis based on meteorological historical data. The same warming that started in Western Europe in the mid-1980s, happened later in Georgia, being 1994 the starting year of the current warming phase. Based on meteorological data covering the 1973-2013 we discussed the main environmental features of Georgian viticulture, comparing the past and the current climate and suggesting new approaches to cope with the current and expected changes to adapt to the new environmental conditions, preserving the quality of grapes and wines. As results of the research activities, three international research papers and one bilingual technical handbook were published.