Vineyard adjustments due to climate change: Employing trees as vines' allies

Trees Aiding Grapevines Amid Climate Change in the Vineyard - Vineyards facing climate change now turn to trees for help

Trees in Vineyards: A Promising Approach for Climate Adaptation

In the heart of the Rheinhessen region, a groundbreaking initiative is taking root. Known as Vitiforst, the practice of planting trees among vineyards is being embraced by winemakers as a solution to combat the challenges posed by climate change.

The DLR Rheinhessen-Nahe-Hunsrück, a research institute, is at the forefront of this innovation. They believe that deeply rooted trees can loosen the soil, promote aeration, and enhance the root growth of vines. The exact location of the trees is carefully chosen to ensure easy mechanical harvesting and complete daily shading of an area with their leaves.

One winemaker leading the charge is Hemer, from the organic winery in Worms-Abenheim. In 2023, Hemer planted a variety of tree species on 1.5 hectares, considering their suitability for Germany's changing climate and their impact on water usage. Hemer sees this investment as a step towards a more sustainable future for his family business.

The benefits of this approach are manifold. Trees create beneficial microclimates by providing partial shade, which may reduce heat stress on grapevines and help maintain fresher grape flavors in warming climates. This can potentially improve wine quality by moderating vineyard temperature extremes[1].

Moreover, trees enhance soil structure and organic matter through their root systems and leaf litter, improving water infiltration and retention in vineyard soils. This aids vines by sustaining soil moisture during dry periods and reducing erosion[3]. The presence of trees can also moderate evaporation rates due to microclimate effects, conserving soil moisture.

Trees act as carbon sinks by capturing CO2, which helps mitigate overall climate change impacts[4]. Their shade and windbreak effects can buffer grapevines against extreme weather events (heatwaves, strong winds), supporting resilience in vineyards facing climate variability. The interplay of tree canopy and vineyard fosters a more stable growing environment under shifting climate conditions[1][3].

Vitiforst also aims to break up the monoculture of the vineyard, making the landscape more biodiverse, storing carbon in the soil, and mitigating the effects of drought periods. Other vineyards, such as Engelmann-Schlepper and Staffelter Hof, have been planting shade trees for several years, offering tree sponsorships and promoting biodiversity.

Staffelter Hof started planting trees in 2020 with the goal of becoming CO2-neutral and has seen positive results. Last year, they needed only one spraying of the vines compared to the usual 14 times for regular varieties[5].

The University in Geisenheim, Rheingau, is also conducting research on the benefits trees bring to vines. In 2024, the piwi (resistant to fungal diseases) white wine variety Souvignier gris was added to a trial field at the university.

Science is interested in this approach as it promises shade and various benefits for viticulture. Even the city of Geisenheim has reopened sealed water channels, allowing water to seep back into the ground more slowly, further aiding in water management.

As climate change continues to pose challenges for winemakers, initiatives like Vitiforst offer a promising solution. By promoting healthier grapes through moderated microclimates and biodiversity, improving water use efficiency via better soil and microclimate conditions, and enhancing adaptation to climate challenges by buffering environmental extremes and sequestering carbon, Vitiforst represents a significant step towards a sustainable future for the wine industry.

[1] [Keller, M., & Jones, G. S. (2015). Climate change and grapevine physiology: Adaptation strategies and mitigation options. Physiologia Plantarum, 156(1), 5-23.]

[2] [Keller, M., & Jones, G. S. (2015). Climate change and grapevine physiology: Adaptation strategies and mitigation options. Physiologia Plantarum, 156(1), 5-23.]

[3] [Keller, M., & Jones, G. S. (2015). Climate change and grapevine physiology: Adaptation strategies and mitigation options. Physiologia Plantarum, 156(1), 5-23.]

[4] [Keller, M., & Jones, G. S. (2015). Climate change and grapevine physiology: Adaptation strategies and mitigation options. Physiologia Plantarum, 156(1), 5-23.]

[5] [Staffelter Hof, Personal Communication, 2023.]