Traditional Negev Grape-Growing Techniques Can Protect Wine Industry from Climate Change

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Researchers have identified and revived grape cultivars that are “believed to be the pride of the ancient Negev viticulture industry.”

By Shula Rosen

Israeli researchers are discovering ways to protect the global wine market from climate change by using traditional grape-growing techniques in the Negev.

The Negev’s desert climate has been stable over the centuries, which makes it the ideal place to research techniques for growing climate-resistant grapes.

As temperatures are rising, the world can look to the Negev for answers on how to grow resilient crops, including grapes.

The University of Haifa’s School of Archaeology and Maritime Cultures published a paper in the peer-reviewed journal Horticulture on reviving traditional grape-cultivating techniques and grapevine cultivars to produce heat-resistant grapes.

To create a grape cultivar, agricultural experts select desirable characteristics and create the cultivar through hybrids, grafts, and clones.

The researchers have identified and revived cultivars that are “believed to be the pride of the ancient Negev viticulture industry.”

Dr. Joshua Schmidt, who along with Professor Guy Bar-Oz led the team of researchers, told the Jerusalem Post, “Vineyards are an inherently long-term investment, and understanding the historical context of viticulture in arid regions like the Negev can provide modern winemakers with essential insights.”

“Our findings suggest that reviving and incorporating historical cultivars, along with the agronomic practices that supported their growth, can significantly enhance the resilience of vineyards in the face of climate change,” he said.

The team of bioarcheologists, cultural historians, paleogeneticists, ethnographers, and wine experts participated in the decade-long study into traditional Negev wine-making techniques and centuries-old grape varieties.

“This research underscores the significance of historical knowledge in contemporary agriculture,” Bar-Oz said.

“By understanding how farmers in the past successfully navigated the challenges of their environment, we can inform current practices, enhance the sustainability of the wine industry at a time when it is under significant threat, and preserve the rich viticultural histories and lineages in wine growing regions.”