Viticulture is facing important challenges in cultivation and management since grapevines are particularly vulnerable to changes in environmental conditions. Heat waves, extreme temperatures, and unpredictable weather patterns have become more frequent in wine‐growing regions, creating an uncertain future for growers. In response, shading nets have emerged as a promising and adaptable technology to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on grape production and wine quality. By moderating the vine microclimate, shading nets reduce solar radiation, decrease the extreme heat and wind speed, and improve water‐use efficiency, enhancing ripening dynamics and preserving berry quality. However, the effectiveness of shading nets varies depending on the shade provided and the specific characteristics of the nets, highlighting the importance of adjusting the strategies to the specific needs of each environment, productive system, and grape variety. This review explores the influence of shading nets on grapevine physiological responses, including their ability to enhance resilience to stress. It examines their impact on grape and wine quality, providing insights into this vital adaptive tool for the future of viticulture.

Latin America offers a unique point of view into the adaptation of viticulture to climate change through its rich diversity of climates, traditional knowledge, and scientific innovation. This review synthesizes the current research and technological developments across major wine-producing countries including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti. Argentina shows key adaptation strategies, including high-altitude vineyard relocation, clonal and rootstock selection, canopy and water management, and the conservation of Criolla and other autochthonous grapevine varieties. In Brazil, tropical viticulture and breeding programs led by Embrapa exemplify advancements in disease-resistant and climate-resilient cultivars. Chile’s heroic and southern viticulture highlights the importance of old vines, microclimatic heterogeneity, and territorial identity. Uruguay stands out for its terroir-based research and producer-led adaptation strategies. This review also addresses systemic challenges in scientific publishing, particularly the underrepresentation of Latin American researchers in global vitivinicultural discourse. These disparities underscore the need for inclusive science that values local knowledge and promotes equity in research funding and dissemination. Overall, Latin America stands out not only as a region highly vulnerable to climate change, but as an emerging model of adaptation and innovation, demonstrating how resilient, sustainable, and culturally rooted wine production can thrive under shifting environmental conditions.

L’objectif est de contribuer au développement des connaissances sur le climat à échelle fine des vignobles uruguayens. La variabilité de la température est étudiée en relation avec les circulations atmosphériques locales dans la région viticole côtière de Montevideo et Canelones, la plus importante du pays, au sud de l’Uruguay. Des capteurs de température ont été installés dans des vignobles, répartis principalement en fonction de la topographie et de la distance à l’estuaire du Río de la Plata. Cette étude porte sur trois saisons végétatives (septembre à mars, pour 2012, 2013 et 2014), sur les données observées de température obtenues par neuf capteurs ainsi que des données climatiques complémentaires d’humidité relative et de vent (vitesse et direction) issues de deux stations météorologiques automatiques, situées à 0,8 et 14,8 km du Río de la Plata. L’étude des données climatiques horaires de vent a permis d’identifier la fréquence de brise de mer sur la région viticole pendant la période de maturation du raisin. La chute des températures a atteint plus de 4°C entre 10 h et 14 h (Heure Locale) sur toutes les parcelles exposées au Sud lors du jour le plus chaud de l’été 2012. De moindre ampleur et de plus courte durée, cette baisse des températures a été enregistrée jusqu’à 30 km à l’intérieur du vignoble. Dans des conditions thermiques extrêmes au cœur de la période de maturation des raisins, l’impact de la brise sur les températures de la région viticole peut réduire le stress thermique pour l’activité photosynthétique et ainsi, être bénéfique au développement des composantes primaires et secondaires dans les raisins.

Plasticity is typically used in biology to describe the ability of an organism to adapt to changes in its environment. Within a viticulture production system under similar management practices, studying the plasticity of a specific cultivar under different local climatic conditions can enhance our understanding of the grape typicity and, consequently, the wine style of a region. This work aims to assess the performance of Albariño vines grown in different mesoclimates within the emerging wine region along Uruguay’s Atlantic coast. The study was conducted in a commercial vineyard in Garzón, Maldonado Department, a key location in this developing wine region. Temperature sensors were installed in each of the four Albariño plots, situated in two contrasting topographic positions relative to Atlantic Ocean exposure, to assess mesoclimate and the ocean’s influences on grapevine plasticity. Agronomic measurements were taken to assess the performance of Albariño under the local climatic conditions. The multivariate analysis of yield and berry composition variables with ocean exposure and seasonal climate has identified three key findings: 1) the Albariño cultivar has shown strong potential for cultivation in eastern Uruguay due to its favourable agronomic and oenological performance, 2) vineyard ocean exposure has a greater effect on berry composition at harvest than on yield, contributing 70.7 % and 63.4 % of the total variability, respectively as observed from the Principal Component Analysis, 3) the correlations between berry composition and ocean exposure are stronger under warmer and drier conditions. Understanding the plasticity of Albariño under different local climatic conditions is valuable for sustainable production systems, provided both production and high quality are maintained. This study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate cultivars and understanding the local climate for the future success of vineyards.