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Little is known on the impact that climate change (CC) may have on Aspergillus carbonarius and Ochratoxin A (OTA) contamination of grapes, especially in the Mediterranean region where in CC scenarios temperature are expected to increase by +2–5 °C and CO 2 from 400 to 800/1200 ppm. This study examined the effect of (i) current and increased temperature in the alternating 11.5 h dark/12.5 h light cycle (15–28 °C vs 18–34 °C), representative of the North Apulia area, South Italy and (ii) existing and predicted CO 2 concentrations (400 vs 1000 ppm), on growth, expression of biosynthetic genes (AcOTApks , AcOTAnrps , AcOTAhal , AcOTAp450 , AcOTAbZIP) and regulatory genes of Velvet complex (laeA / veA / velB , "velvet complex") involved in OTA biosynthesis and OTA phenotypic production by three strains of A. carbonarius. The experiments made on a grape-based matrix showed that elevated CO 2 resulted in a general stimulation of growth and OTA production. These results were also supported by the up-regulation of both structural and regulatory genes involved in the OTA biosynthesis. Our work has shown for the first time that elevated CO 2 concentration in the Mediterranean region may result in an increased risk of OTA contamination in the wine production chain. • Influence of alternate T° and increase of CO 2 on ecophysiology of A spergillus carbonarius. • In vitro simulation of a climate change scenario in Apulia region. • Respect to other aspergilli, A. carbonarius grown faster under increased CO 2. • Relative expression of structural and regulatory genes paralleled OTA production. • Increased ochratoxigenic risk in grapes under higher CO 2 concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]