The 7th edition of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Global Conference on Wine Tourism will be held in La Rioja, Spain, in 2023. This new edition was presented at the Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture, with the participation of Concha Andreu, President of the Government of La Rioja; Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism; and the Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, Zurab Pololikashvili.
The Conference has become a leading international forum on trends, tools and opportunities to advance wine tourism. It provides an opportunity for experts and professionals, as well as consolidated and emerging destinations in this tourism segment to exchange knowledge and experiences.
This is a sector that can lead a positive change, especially in many rural communities.
Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization
During the official presentation, which was hosted at the Vivanco facilities in Briones, Pololikashvili thanked Spain and La Rioja for hosting the 2023 edition of the Conference, and highlighted the potential of wine tourism as a driver of the growth of local economies and as an engine of social change.
The President of La Rioja, Concha Andreu, pointed out the recognition that the holding of the Conference implies for the tourist development of the region. “La Rioja possesses a unique and diverse heritage, both material and intangible, related to wine as food and as a product, and, in turn, that heritage constitutes a leading tourism offering that can and should be further enhanced,” she said.
The wine industry creates jobs and opportunities in the most depopulated areas, boosting economic growth
Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization
Global wine production below average for third year in a row due to drought in Europe
The 2022 edition the UNWTO Global Conference on Wine Tourism is set to take place in Alba, Italy, from 19 to 21 September, where industry leaders are expected to discuss urgent challenges such as the risks of drought this summer, stagnant production levels in Europe, and the impact of rising temperatures across the world.
According to data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, Europe experienced dry conditions during most of July, with much of the continent seeing rainfall and, in particular, soil moisture well below average. The month began with conditions already dry, following a drier-than-average June over the UK, Ireland, Italy and most of the Iberian Peninsula, in addition to a large region stretching from the northern Balkans across eastern Europe and to north-western Russia.
July began with conditions already dry, following a drier-than-average June over the UK, Ireland, Italy and most of the Iberian Peninsula, in addition to a large region stretching from the northern Balkans across eastern Europe and to north-western Russia.
In France, where July was the second driest month since records began. With a total rainfall of 9.7 mm, last month was the driest July since records began in 1959, according to the French meteorological and climate service. This represents a rainfall deficit of 85% compared to the average for the 1991-2020 reference period. The previous records dated back to July 2020 with 16.7 mm of precipitation, and July 1964 with 24.7 mm.
Persistent lack of precipitation since December 2021 has had a major impact in northern Italy, where the Po River completely disappeared in places. In late June, the flow measured at Pontelagoscuro, near Ferrara, fell below an average of 145 cubic meters per second (the historic average flow for June is 1,805 cubic meters per second). In mid-July at Cremona – roughly halfway along the Po – the water was more than 8 meters below “hydrographic zero”. These dry conditions adversely affected energy production, agriculture and river transport in the region.
Grapes grow in narrow geographical and climatic ranges where temperatures during the growing season average 12-22°C (54-72°F). Global warming could have an impact on the yield and quality of established wine varieties. Zurich Insurance reports that in Australia, the southern island state of Tasmania is rising in popularity as its lower temperatures are suitable for chardonnay and pinot noir. Winemaker Brown Brothers was one of the first movers in 2010 when it purchased three vineyards in Tasmania due to concerns over global warming’s impact on vineyards on the Australian mainland.
In 2021, EU production volume was down 13% year-on-year. Conversely, wine growing regions in South America, South Africa and Australia registered a 19% increase compared to 2020. However, this volume was not enough to bring up the global production average. Only Germany – Europe’s fourth largest wine producer – registered an increase in its volume by 4% compared to 2020
