Rising global temperatures means that grapes will mature faster than usual, something that would compromise the character, color and alcohol content of wine.

Geneticists and vintners in Spain are looking for ideal grape types that can withstand climate change and future-proof the adult beverage against the expected coming shifts in world temperatures.

The Spanish publicly-funded Vine and Wine Research Institute, known by its acronym ICVV, is studying the genomes of the most commonly used grape varieties in the La Rioja region, where wine has been made since the Middle Ages.

The studies have determined that vines aged 35 years and older appear to cope better with climate change because they are more genetically diverse.

Scientists are extracting DNA from crushed grape leaves to re-sequence genomes and allow for the identification of specific mutations or traits that can help the vines better adapt to the environmental conditions of the future.

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