There are many parts of the local environment that help agriculture thrive in the La Rioja region, but my favorite is the impact of local mountain ranges. The vineyards use surrounding mountain ranges to survive, as the tall mountains protect the vines from harsh weather and climates. The high altitude also keeps temperatures cool, which helps the grapes stay fresh for the harvest. The mountains also make for a very scenic backdrop when admiring the vines, as you can tell by my photographs.
The vineyards in La Rioja face occasional climate and environmental challenges. Extreme weather such as droughts, heatwaves, high winds or frosty temperatures can threaten the harvest. Additionally, farmers need to be careful and check for pests and fungus throughout the season. Although there are no extreme environmental threats to the vineyards, the farmers are at financial risk. Due to overproduction, the prices of grapes and wine are dropping. Many farms are choosing to grow olives instead of grapes, in hopes of a higher profit by producing olive oil. We will see how this crop is affected by the environment in the future!
