Ventoux Vineyards Face 4°C Warming by 2100 as New Mapping Tool Guides Climate Adaptation

In the south of France, the winegrowers of the Ventoux appellation are facing the challenges of climate change with a new digital tool. The AOC Ventoux, which covers 51 towns and stretches across the foothills of Mont Ventoux and the Monts de Vaucluse, has introduced a Geographic Information System (GIS) to map its vineyards in detail. This system, developed in partnership with the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), is designed to help wine producers adapt to rising temperatures and changing weather patterns.

The GIS project began after several years of research led by Iñaki Garcia de Cortazar Atauri, a scientist at INRAE’s Climate Carbon Plan Unit. The study used data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s sixth report, which outlines possible climate scenarios through the end of the 21st century. The GIS maps every vineyard parcel in the AOC Ventoux, recording its grape varieties, maturity stages, and exposure to climate events. Each plot is geolocated by GPS, allowing growers to track how their vines respond to heatwaves, droughts, rainfall, and wind.

The region’s vineyards have been producing wine under the AOC label since 1973. Today, about 130 winemakers cultivate grapes on land that ranges from valley floors to slopes over 500 meters above sea level. These higher-altitude sites benefit from cooler temperatures and are less affected by heatwaves than those in lower areas. However, even these vineyards are not immune to climate change. Over the past 30 years, average temperatures have risen sharply. The number of days above 30°C has doubled in six decades. While annual rainfall has increased by up to 100 millimeters since 1991, summer remains dry when vines need water most. Between June and August, there is now a cumulative water deficit of about 30 millimeters.

The GIS tool allows each grower to zoom in on their own parcels and see detailed information about altitude, sun exposure, wind patterns like the mistral, and rainfall. With this data, they can make informed decisions about which grape varieties to plant or whether to move vineyards higher up the slopes for cooler conditions. Frédéric Chaudière, president of AOC Ventoux, emphasized during a recent presentation in Mallemort-du-Comtat that this technology acts as a compass for local producers. “Thanks to this tool,” he said, “we will be better equipped to adapt. It helps us avoid working blindly.”

The main grape varieties in Ventoux—Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre—are now ripening earlier than before. Harvest dates have advanced by one to two weeks over recent decades due to warmer springs and summers. Researchers are studying alternative varieties such as Caladoc that may be more resistant to heat and drought. The GIS also helps identify which plots might be suitable for these new grapes.

The future scenarios outlined by climate experts are sobering. If greenhouse gas emissions continue unchecked, average temperatures in the region could rise by up to four degrees Celsius by 2100. The number of days with extreme heat could increase from around ten per year today to sixty by century’s end. While frost risk is decreasing slightly in Ventoux’s vineyards, other threats like drought and heatwaves are becoming more frequent.

Winegrowers are considering several strategies: planting more resilient grape varieties, conserving water resources, and shifting vineyards uphill where possible. The GIS provides a scientific basis for these decisions by linking historical climate data with vineyard performance and grape phenology—the timing of budburst, flowering, fruit set, veraison (when grapes change color), and harvest.

The collaboration between AOC Ventoux, INRAE, Météo-France (the national weather service), and France’s National Institute of Geographic and Forest Information ensures that local producers have access to up-to-date information tailored to their specific locations. As climate change accelerates across southern France’s wine regions, tools like this GIS may become essential for preserving both yields and quality in the decades ahead.