Y leaf of watered plants. When g was plotted versus leaf specific hydraulic conductance, K l , incorporating leaf transpiration rate and whole-plant water potential gradients, previous differences between varieties disappeared both on a seasonal and diurnal scale. This suggested that isohydric and anisohydric behaviour could be regulated by hydraulic conductance. Pressure-flow measurements on excised organs from plants not previously stressed revealed that Grenache had a twoto three-fold larger hydraulic conductance per unit path length ( K h ) and a four-to six-fold larger leaf area specific conductivity (LSC) in leaf petioles than Syrah. Differences between internodes were only apparent for LSC and were much smaller. Cavitation detected as ultrasound acoustic emissions on air-dried shoots showed higher rates for Grenache than Syrah during the early phases of the dry-down. It is hypothesized that the differences in water-conducting capacity of stems and especially petioles may be at the origin of the near-isohydric and anisohydric behaviour of g .

Predicted changes in the climate of European viticultural regions over coming decades may alter significantly both the spectrum and the distribution of grape varieties currently used. Changes observed over recent years confirm those predictions. In particular, shifts in precipitation patterns will affect most European regions, with increased risk of drought, and given this scenario, the consequences would be most dramatic for the Iberian peninsula. Soil practices may have to be adapted to account for changes in soil moisture and decay rates of organic matter. Rising CO2 concentration alone may increase grape production and water use efficiency, but more comprehensive studies predict decreases in yield when increasing temperature and changes in solar radiation are considered simultaneously. As part of those changes in solar radiation, levels of UV‐B radiation will probably continue to rise, and will have a direct impact on grape composition and thus flavour development via alteration of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, amino acids and carotenoids.

Viticulture and winemaking are important socioeconomic sectors in many European regions. Climate plays a vital role in the terroir of a given wine region, as it strongly controls canopy microclimate, vine growth, vine physiology, yield, and berry composition, which together determine wine attributes and typicity. New challenges are, however, predicted to arise from climate change, as grapevine cultivation is deeply dependent on weather and climate conditions. Changes in viticultural suitability over the last decades, for viticulture in general or the use of specific varieties, have already been reported for many wine regions. Despite spatially heterogeneous impacts, climate change is anticipated to exacerbate these recent trends on suitability for wine production. These shifts may reshape the geographical distribution of wine regions, while wine typicity may also be threatened in most cases. Changing climates will thereby urge for the implementation of timely, suitable, and cost-effective adaptation strategies, which should also be thoroughly planned and tuned to local conditions for an effective risk reduction. Although the potential of the different adaptation options is not yet fully investigated, deserving further research activities, their adoption will be of utmost relevance to maintain the socioeconomic and environmental sustainability of the highly valued viticulture and winemaking sector in Europe.

A geometrical canopy model describing radiation absorption (Riou et al. 1989, Agronomie 9, 441–450) and partitioning between grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) and soil was coupled to a soil water balance routine describing a bilinear change in relative transpiration rate as a function of the fraction of soil transpirable water (FTSW). The model was amended to account for changes in soil evaporation after precipitation events and subsequent dry-down of the top soil layer. It was tested on two experimental vineyards in the Alsace region, France, varying in soil type, water-holding capacity and rooting depth. Simulations were run over four seasons (1992–1993, 1995–1996) and compared with measurements of FTSW conducted with a neutron probe. For three out of four years, the model simulated the dynamics in seasonal soil water balance adequately. For the 1996 season soil water content was overestimated for one vineyard and underestimated for the other. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the model responded strongly to changes in canopy parameters, and that soil evaporation was particularly sensitive to water storage of the top soil layer after rainfall. We found a close relationship between field-average soil water storage and pre-dawn water potential, a relationship which could be used to couple physiological models of growth and / or photosynthesis to the soil water dynamics.