The most popular alcoholic beverages in Europe threatened by climate change – is this the end of Prosecco?

Beer, wine, and spirits producers are suffering from intensifying droughts, heavy rainfall, and violent storms. According to analysts, the most popular alcoholic beverages in Europe are already starting to taste different, and over time, they may completely disappear from store shelves.

Fewer and fewer grapes

French scientists from the well-known wine regions of Bordeaux and Bourgogne warn that due to climate change, most coastal vineyards in southern Europe will soon be unable to produce high-quality fruit. Already today, grape harvests take place up to three weeks earlier than 40 years ago, and prolonged droughts and heatwaves are altering the taste of wine and limiting its supply. There is even talk that vineyards will have to move north – possibly as far as Sweden!

Prosecco, one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in Europe, is also at risk. The sparkling white wine owes its unique taste to the location of vineyards on mountain slopes with inclines of up to 30 degrees. However, climate change is causing temperatures to rise even at higher altitudes, and the soil is eroding due to droughts. Installing irrigation in such geographical conditions is practically impossible. According to a study published in the journal iScience, producers of port and liqueur wines such as Passito are facing similar problems.

Beer production is also declining

The most popular alcoholic beverages in Europe also include light lagers and aromatic dark beers – both of which are clearly suffering from climate change. Czech expert Miroslav Trnka warns that the production of noble hops in some European regions has dropped by 20% since the 1970s. At the same time, due to rising temperatures, the level of alpha acids responsible for the pleasant bitterness of beer is expected to decrease by as much as 30% by 2050.

The British are not faring any better. Hops grown in Kent County are already losing their bitterness, and scientists are trying to save the famous island pints by modifying plant DNA to make them more resistant to drought and high temperatures. According to Czech researchers, the brewing industry in Poland, Austria, France, and Belgium is also under serious threat.

Will the most popular alcoholic beverages in Europe fade into oblivion?

Another issue could be water scarcity, as beer is over 90% water, while stronger spirits contain at least 60%. The British company Diageo, responsible for producing Guinness beer and Baileys liqueur, expressed concerns in 2023 that in many regions of the world, the shortage of drinking water is so severe that it threatens the operation of distilleries and breweries. In 2022, the corporation used over 17 billion liters of water, often competing for it with local communities, such as in Turkey and Mexico.

In Hungary, sudden storms and torrential rains have turned into a curse, causing significant damage to cherry and sour cherry crops in 2024—fruits used to produce pálinka, the famous fruit brandy. Growers are also struggling with the sensitivity of peach trees and raspberry and blackcurrant bushes to unpredictable weather. Local alcohol producers are trying to adapt to the new realities by starting pálinka production from… kiwi fruit.

Climatologists from University College London have also published a concerning forecast for Scotch whisky enthusiasts. Their findings suggest that the expected rise in temperature and changes in rainfall patterns will significantly impact the supply of three key ingredients of the legendary spirit over the next 50 years: water, barley, and yeast. The heatwave that hit Scotland in 2018 reduced barley yields by nearly 8%. Consumers will not only pay more for their favorite drink, but according to scientists, they will also have to get used to a new taste – as the effects of whisky distillation and maturation depend largely on Scotland’s cool climate.

main photo: Matthieu Joannon / Unsplash