A problem already showing up in the glass<\/strong><\/p>\n Rising temperatures and longer drought periods are speeding up grape ripening, raising sugar content and lowering acidity \u2014 the result is wine that is more alcoholic, less fresh, and carries different aromatic profiles than traditional styles. The shift is a particular concern for an industry already going through a period of crisis, and whose strategy in Navarra is not to increase output but to improve quality and sharpen varietal differentiation.<\/p>\n Jos\u00e9 Mari Aierdi, Navarra’s Minister for Rural Development and the Environment, put it this way: “the effects of climate change are a reality that will inevitably intensify across every area, and viticultural research to adapt to these scenarios has become a first-order challenge for Navarra’s wine sector, where we clearly need to back innovation, differentiation, quality and the prestige of our brands to turn this crisis into an opportunity.”<\/p>\n A plot chosen for its strategic location<\/strong><\/p>\n The vineyard covers roughly one hectare in Sabaiza, in the Merindad de Sang\u00fcesa\/Zangoza, chosen for three reasons: its altitude of 820 metres \u2014 historically, few Navarra vineyards sit above 600 metres \u2014 nutrient-rich soil with good water-retention capacity, and geographic and climatic conditions well suited to the trial.<\/p>\n There, EVENA is studying the behaviour, adaptive capacity and resilience of 25 grape varieties \u2014 15 red and 10 white \u2014 of varying origins, alongside three recovered native varieties: ‘oneca’, ‘musa’ and ‘beru\u00e9s’. In total, 28 varieties are under observation.<\/p>\n