Climate change adaptation preferences of winemakers from the Rioja wine appellation

Abstract

The goal of this study is to elicit the preferences of winemakers in the Spanish Rioja wine appellation regarding climate change adaptation strategies. This is achieved through the use of a discrete choice experiment which includes different potential adaptation strategies such as the use of various grape clones, the installation of an irrigation system, the construction of vegetative or artificial structures to shade the vines, and oenological adaptations. The results show that the most widely accepted strategy is the installation of irrigation and shading structures. In contrast, the least accepted strategy is relocating, which is a costly and long-term solution. The monetary measures obtained are useful for policymakers because they show how much financial assistance will be required to adapt to climate change and maintain the high-quality wine production of the region. A simulation study supports the findings, demonstrating that the small sample size data set applied in this case study is sufficient for drawing conclusions about the adaptation strategies considered.