When on the subject of resource consumption, we were surprised to read that two thirds of the world’s fresh water is used for agricultural irrigation (not just wine) in an ad from Monsanto. (But that 60% of the world’s agricultural produce comes from non-irrigated land.) It would be interesting to know how the picture is for wine growing.
There are big regional differences. In e.g. Australia and Argentina there are wine regions that would not exist without irrigation (and also in California water resources and distribution is a big issue), whereas in other regions water is used more sparingly.
Even in France irrigation is now permitted (under certain conditions) in the vineyards. Monsanto also writes that one of their goals is to develop seeds that produce the same quantities but with 30% less water consumption.
