Winemakers on the Greek island of Santorini are trying to adapt to heat and drought. Yiannis Boutaris, a sixth-generation winemaker, is testing a pilot project to take wastewater from homes and hotels to irrigate the vines.
Adapting to New Circumstances
Boutaris, whose winery has its own vineyards and also buys grapes, said the lack of rain and lack of cultivation in the last couple of years has led to old vineyards dying. He emphasized that his winery is not abandoning tradition but adapting to the new circumstances.
Other winemakers, such as Yiannis Papaeconomou, are also planning to tap into the wastewater project for their vines. Papaeconomou has been trying other techniques, including a system that irrigates the vines underneath the soil rather than from above, to reduce evaporation.
The production of Santorini’s famous Assyrtiko grape fell from 2,500 metric tons in 2022 to just 500 tons last year. Winemakers are paying farmers 10 euros ($11) a kg, the kind of prices seen in prosperous regions like Champagne.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
