A prominent European winemaker, Familia Torres, is considering relocating from its ancestral lands in Catalonia within the next three decades due to the impacts of climate change, which threaten to make the area’s conditions too arid and hot for vineyard cultivation. The 152-year-old family business has already started implementing irrigation systems in Spain, California, and is growing vines at higher, cooler altitudes to combat extreme weather. According to Miguel Torres, the company’s 83-year-old president, the changes caused by climate change might allow the winery to continue producing quality wines in Catalonia for only 20 to 30 years more.
The vortices of climate change have already led to a 1°C increase in average temperatures in the Penedès region over the past 40 years, which has advanced the vineyard harvest by about 10 days compared to a few decades ago. This year’s production has improved thanks to irrigation and seasonal rains following a difficult period, but there are concerns about the increased risk of mildew due to the wetter climate.
To ensure continuity in its crop yields, Torres emphasizes the necessity to mitigate global warming, which he believes is detrimental to the wine industry. The family invests 11% of its annual profits in efforts to combat and adapt to the climate crisis but might ultimately be forced to move some of its vineyards westward to cooler areas with a more reliable supply of water.
Apart from the struggle with climate change, the winery is also facing a competitive market and regulatory hurdles, including US tariffs on wine and the UK’s recent imposition of additional duties. Furthermore, a new packaging tax, notably affecting glass bottle manufacturers, such as Torres, is squeezing their profit margins.
The company is considering bottling some of its more affordable wine brands in the UK to reduce costs, taking advantage of the lower cost of importing wine in bulk containers. Despite the growing challenges, Torres remains committed to maintaining its presence in the UK market.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/may/17/top-winemaker-spanish-vineyards-climate-crisis-familia-torres
