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Viticulture, climate and irrigation… no longer just an emergency measure
In recent decades, viticulture has become increasingly exposed to the effects of climate change: high temperatures, longer summers, irregular rainfall and periods of drought are changing the production balance in many winegrowing areas.
According to the OIV, global wine production in 2024 fell to around 226 million hectolitres, one of the lowest levels recorded in recent decades. The 2025 estimates included in the OIV World Wine Production Outlook published in November 2025 indicate that production remains below the average of the last five years, confirming that climate variability is now one of the main factors affecting vineyards, with prolonged droughts, heatwaves, irregular rainfall and extreme weather events.
In this scenario, water can no longer be seen only as a resource to be used in emergencies. So-called emergency irrigation is changing its role: when managed with modern technologies, it becomes a true precision irrigation strategy, helping support vine development, reduce the effects of water stress and preserve the quality of wine grapes.
For a long time, vine irrigation in Europe was viewed with caution, as it was associated with higher yields and the risk of reducing wine quality. Today, however, climate conditions have changed, and drip irrigation systems for vineyards make it possible to distribute water in a localized, controlled and uniform way, without excess.
Studies on grape varieties such as Primitivo and Cabernet Sauvignon show that carefully calibrated irrigation regimes can influence phenolic composition, acidity, colour, aromatic profile and the sensory characteristics of wine.[1][2][3]. However, the outcome depends on the variety, phenological stage, level of water stress and soil and climate conditions. This is why precision in water distribution and in monitoring the vine’s water status becomes essential.[4]
Vine water stress: why it needs to be managed with precision
The vine is a resilient crop, but excessive water stress can compromise berry growth, reduce photosynthetic activity, bring ripening forward too quickly and alter the balance between sugars, acidity, aromas and phenolic compounds.
The goal, therefore, is not to irrigate more, but to irrigate better: applying water at the right time, with the right volumes and according to the actual conditions of the vineyard. In viticulture, the objective is not always to restore the plant to full water availability. Controlled deficit irrigation strategies aim to maintain moderate and manageable stress, while avoiding the negative effects of prolonged water shortage.
According to the FAO, up to the beginning of veraison, irrigation can be scheduled when around 35-45% of the available soil water has been depleted. In the following stages, the decision depends on the relationship between the water available in the root zone and the maximum crop evapotranspiration.
Precise water management makes it possible to:
- maintain a better balance between vegetative growth and production;
- support grape ripening during the most sensitive stages;
- reduce the effects of heatwaves;
- promote more uniform production along the row.
Drip irrigation in vineyards: technical advantages
Drip irrigation in vineyards is one of the most effective solutions for vine water management, because it distributes water directly to the area explored by the roots, with controlled flow rates and lower losses due to evaporation or runoff.
Compared with less localized irrigation methods, drip irrigation allows small and frequent volumes of water to be applied, keeping soil moisture more stable in the portion of soil reached by the root system. This helps improve water use efficiency and makes it possible to adjust irrigation according to the phenological stage, soil type and production objective.
Several studies on deficit irrigation in grapevines have shown that, under controlled conditions, water inputs can be reduced by up to 50%* compared with full crop evapotranspiration, without negative effects on production and with possible quality improvements. This figure should not be interpreted as a rule that applies to every vineyard, but as confirmation of the importance of precise water management based on data, design and control.
From a technical point of view, a drip irrigation system for vineyards must be designed by considering:
- soil characteristics and root depth;
- planting layout and row length;
- dripper flow rate and spacing between emitters;
- operating pressure and head losses;
- water quality and filtration system;
- any elevation differences or changes in slope;
- grape variety.
All these factors directly affect distribution uniformity, meaning the system’s ability to deliver even amounts of water throughout the vineyard.
Pressure-compensating driplines for sloping vineyards
In vineyards with elevation differences, long rows or non-uniform soils, distribution uniformity is essential. If some plants receive more water and others less, vine vigour, ripening and grape quality can vary.
For this reason, in more complex contexts, pressure-compensating driplines are particularly suitable, as they maintain a constant flow rate even when pressure varies. This feature is especially important in hillside vineyards, systems with long lines and perennial crops, where the irrigation system must ensure reliability and consistent performance over many seasons.
Solutions such as Multibar® F or Multibar® C are designed for perennial crops and for systems where long-term reliability, durability and precision are required. The choice of dripline must always be linked to the actual conditions of the vineyard: line diameter, flow rate, available pressure, water quality, slope, row length and agronomic objectives.
When to irrigate the vineyard: monitoring and data
Water management in the vineyard cannot rely only on visual observation. When the symptoms of vine water stress become visible, the plant may already have reduced its physiological activity.
This is why field sensors, agrometeorological stations and digital systems are becoming increasingly important, as they can monitor soil moisture, temperature, rainfall, evapotranspiration and other useful parameters for planning irrigation cycles.
One particularly important value is crop evapotranspiration, often indicated as ETc, which represents the amount of water lost from the soil-plant-atmosphere system. Irrigation scheduling can start from this value, applying a percentage of ETc according to the desired plant water status, the phenological stage and the quality objectives.
In this way, precision irrigation in vineyards makes it possible to use water only when it is truly needed, avoiding both late irrigation and unnecessary applications. The difference is significant: water is not distributed according to a fixed calendar, but according to the real behaviour of the vineyard and the actual soil conditions.
Vineyard fertigation: water and nutrients in a single system
Drip irrigation also makes it possible to integrate vineyard fertigation, distributing nutrients through irrigation water in a more precise and split way.
Fertigation does not mean increasing inputs, but making them more efficient. In quality-oriented vineyards, the objective is to support the plant when it truly needs specific nutrients, avoiding waste, leaching and vegetative imbalances.
Systems such as DosaBox® allow fertilizer injection to be managed with greater control, improving input efficiency and reducing waste. In this way, water and nutrition become part of an integrated vineyard management strategy.
Irrigation and climate adaptation
The response to climate change in viticulture requires integrated strategies: canopy management, cover crops, mulching, increasing soil organic matter, choosing suitable rootstocks and, where necessary, protecting vines from excessive solar radiation.
Within this set of practices, precision irrigation plays a decisive role, because it makes it possible to act on one of today’s most critical factors: water availability when the vine truly needs it.
With Irritec solutions, including filtration, fertigation, automation, agrometeorological systems and software for data processing and agronomic support, vineyards can be managed more efficiently, sustainably and with a clear focus on quality.
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