Climate change disrupts vineyard ecosystems as pests and wildlife alter behaviors

As climate change accelerates, its effects on vineyards are becoming more pronounced across the globe. Higher temperatures are shifting the timing of key events in the vineyard, such as bud burst and grape ripening, and are also altering the chemistry of grapes. These changes are not limited to the vines themselves. Weather patterns are becoming less predictable, with water shortages and more frequent hailstorms affecting yields. At the same time, vineyard ecosystems are experiencing significant shifts as birds, insects, and mammals move in new and unexpected ways.

Winegrowers from Europe to Australia and North America are reporting changes in the wildlife that inhabit or visit their vineyards. Animals that once kept their distance or followed regular migration patterns are now appearing at unusual times or in greater numbers. This can lead to increased crop losses and new challenges for vineyard management. Insects, in particular, are thriving as warmer winters fail to keep their populations in check. Many pest species are expanding their ranges and reproducing more quickly, leading to greater damage to vines and grapes.

One example is the spotted wing drosophila, a fruit fly that damages grapes before and during harvest. Originally from Japan, this pest has spread rapidly over the past few decades and is now found on every continent except Antarctica. In the United Kingdom, half of the vineyards surveyed by WineGB in 2023 reported problems with this insect. In the United States, California’s vineyards face growing pressure from the glassy-winged sharpshooter, a leafhopper that spreads Pierce’s disease—a bacterial infection that blocks water transport in grapevines. Historically, cold winters helped control both the insect and the disease, but milder winters now allow both to survive year-round. Vines infected with Pierce’s disease often must be uprooted and replaced.

Another invasive insect causing concern is the brown marmorated stink bug, native to East Asia but now established in many wine regions across North America and Europe. Research suggests that global warming could allow this pest to become common in parts of England as well. The stink bug poses a unique threat: if crushed during winemaking, it releases compounds that can spoil a wine’s aroma and flavor even at very low concentrations.

Mammals are also making their presence felt in vineyards as climate change alters their habitats. In Tuscany’s Chianti Classico region, wild boar and deer have become more common visitors to vineyards during dry years. Some producers have reported losing up to 30% of their grape crop to these animals during droughts. To protect their vines, growers are installing fences around vulnerable areas. Sandro Bottega of Bottega SpA notes that wildlife is increasingly seeking food in vineyard areas across both Veneto and Tuscany.

Birds have long been a challenge for winegrowers worldwide. In some cases, they can consume most of a vineyard’s crop before harvest. A study in New South Wales, Australia found that birds destroyed up to 83% of grapes in certain blocks. In the United States, bird damage was estimated at $70 million annually across five states as early as 2012. Now, changing migration patterns caused by milder winters mean that birds like starlings may stay longer or arrive earlier in wine regions, increasing pressure on ripening grapes.

Growers are responding with a mix of traditional and innovative solutions. Some use netting to protect vines from birds, but this method can be costly and creates waste since most netting is not recyclable and must be replaced every few years. Others have turned to falconry as a natural deterrent; studies show that introducing birds of prey can reduce grape losses by up to 95%. Stephy Terrizzi of Giornata winery in California has found falconry to be both effective and more sustainable than netting.

Not all changes brought by climate shifts are negative for vineyards. Warmer temperatures have allowed some bat species to expand their ranges into new wine regions. Bats feed on insects—sometimes consuming up to two-thirds of their body weight each night—and can help control pest populations naturally. At Esporão in Portugal’s Alentejo region, increased bat activity has led to fewer pests where bats are present. The winery encourages bats by conserving habitats and installing bat boxes around its vineyards.

As climate change continues to reshape vineyard ecosystems worldwide, growers face mounting challenges from pests and wildlife whose behaviors no longer follow historical patterns. These ecological shifts affect not only vine health but also harvest timing and grape quality—factors that ultimately influence the wines produced each year. While some responses rely on technology or physical barriers, others look to nature itself for solutions by encouraging beneficial species like bats and birds of prey as part of integrated pest management strategies. The ongoing adaptation required by winegrowers highlights how closely linked viticulture is with broader environmental changes now underway around the world.