n the late 19th century, the phylloxera epidemic ravaged Bordeaux, destroying vineyards and crippling the French wine industry. As production collapsed, many Bordeaux winemakers sought new opportunities in Spain, settling in La Rioja, a region unaffected by the pest. They introduced advanced viticulture practices, including oak barrel aging, which significantly improved the quality of La Rioja’s wines and elevated its status internationally. Today, La Rioja faces a new threat: Rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns are affecting grape ripening and wine profiles. Much like in the 19th century, winemakers are adapting—exploring higher altitudes and new techniques to safeguard the region’s wine production against these challenges. In this false colour image, vineyards and other vegetation are shown in red.
42.48946° N, 2.69327° W
Image Credit and Data Processing: Atlas of Change
Data sources: PNOA, Centro Nacional de Información Geográfica (CNIG)
