La escasez de agua en las principales regiones de expansión vitivinícola de Mendoza y el Nexus Agua – Energía – Empleo

Argentine viticulture is characterized by depending on the Andean snows and the rivers that flow from its peaks. In the last decade (2012 – 2022), the consequences of Climate Change have been present in the Andes Mountains, as the snowfall was lower than historical averages diminishing water flow in rivers and, furthermore water volume for irrigation. There is a strong relationship, especially in irrigated areas, between water, energy and food production expressed through the Nexus. In the case of viticulture, the concept has been adapted to water, energy and added value or employment, since the economic activity of many wine territories depends on employment and the value generated by wine chains. The scarcity and instability of water sources followed by problems of the energy markets have led Argentine viticulture to a strong process of adaptation to new scenarios, largely conditioned by the Nexus and by the complex national macroeconomy. Territorial specialization and the search for higher value products have been the most important responses with a growth in the Uco Valley and the upper area of the Mendoza River on one side, and the loss of productive areas and winegrowers in the provinces of Mendoza and San Juan, especially from common grapes to produce basic wines and/or concentrated musts.