The effects of global warming on plants are not limited to the exacerbation of summer stresses; they could also induce dormancy dysfunctions. In January 2020, a bud break was observed in an old poly-varietal vineyard. Meteorological data elaboration of the 1951–2020 period confirmed the general climatic warming of the area and highlighted the particular high temperatures of the last winter. Phenological records appeared to be significantly correlated to wood hydration and starch reserve consumption, demonstrating a systemic response of the plant to the warm conditions. The eight cultivars, identified by single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) profiles and ampelographic description, grown in this vineyard showed different behaviors. Among them, the neglected Sprino, Baresana, Bianco Palmento, and Uva Gerusalemme, as well as the interspecific hybrid Seyve Villard 12.375, appeared to be the most interesting. Among the adaptation strategies to climate changes, the cultivar selection should be considered a priority, as it reduces the inputs required for the plant management over the entire life cycle of the vineyard. Hot Mediterranean areas, such as Salento, are a battlefront against the climate change impacts, and, thus, they represent a precious source of biodiversity for viticulture.

Climate change poses significant challenges to viticulture worldwide, with Eastern European vineyards experiencing increased water stress due to rising temperatures, irregular precipitation patterns, and prolonged drought periods. These climatic shifts hurt vine phenology, grape quality, and overall productivity. In response, adaptive irrigation strategies such as Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI) have gained attention for optimizing water use while preserving grape quality. Concurrently, the adoption of smart agriculture technologies—including soil moisture sensors, automated weather stations, remote sensing, and data-driven decision support systems—enables precise monitoring and real-time management of vineyard water status. This review synthesizes recent studies from Eastern Europe, emphasizing the necessity of integrating climate adaptation measures with intelligent irrigation management to enhance vineyard resilience and sustainability under increasing climate variability.

Nitrogen (N) deficiency causes a morphological disequilibrium between shoots and roots, favoring hypogeal growth. Our hypothesis is that short-term nitrogen deficiency could induce an increase in vine resilience, inducing root growth before the appearance of significant dysfunctions in the epigeal part of the plant. Then, nitrogen availability could be promptly restored through a well-thought-out fertilization plan. In this experiment, two table grape cultivars grafted onto three different rootstocks were studied in three hydroponic growing conditions characterized by different nitrogen availability. After 53 days of treatment, plant morphologies were described, and leaf photosynthetic pigments were quantified. The short-term nitrogen deficiency induced root growth, leading to significantly different proportions among the hypogeal and the epigeal parts, despite no significant differences were recorded concerning shoot growth. Some small differences in the leaf pigmentations indicated an incipient symptom of nitrogen deficiency, and significant differences in the phytomer morphology indicated the possibility of developing low-cost indices for prompt identification of incipient symptoms. This will allow the exploitation of the advantages of short-term nitrogen deficiency while avoiding negative effects on shoot growth by promptly restoring the nitrogen availability.

Soil management in vineyards is a crucial component of sustainable viticulture. Weed control under the row has traditionally been addressed using mechanical, physical, and chemical techniques, but herbicides pose environmental and health risks. The circular economy offers an alternative approach by converting organic waste into a resource, such as compost. This study explores the effectiveness of compost derived from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW) not only as a mulching technique but also as a potential biological agent for weed control through allelopathic mechanisms in vineyards. Experiments were conducted both in the field and under controlled conditions. In the field, compost was applied under the vine row as mulch and incorporated into the soil. Under controlled conditions, germination tests were performed to assess weed inhibition at different compost concentrations. Field results demonstrated that compost applications, both as mulch and incorporated into the soil, significantly inhibited weed growth during the first period after application compared to the tilled control without compost. Thus, this inhibition is not limited to physical mulching; it also applies to the release of allelopathic compounds from compost. Controlled condition experiments showed strong inhibition of germination in Cichorium intybus and Foeniculum vulgare seeds, confirming the anti-germinative effects of compost, particularly on small-seeded weed species. Compost is a promising tool for sustainable vineyard management, offering fertilization and weed-suppression benefits while reducing herbicide use.