Wildfires in California

DESPITE FIRES, CALIFORNIA WINE IS DOING JUST FINE – FOR NOW

10:01 AM ET, 11/09/2019 – Associated Press

HEALDSBURG, Calif. (AP) — If you’re worried that wildfires might have created shortages of Northern California’s 2019 cabernet sauvignon, or even just imparted it with an undesirable smoky flavor, you can relax. The wine is just fine. For now.

“I have to thank the people who planted our vineyards and built our house 100 years ago,” Bilbro said. “Our buildings are all surrounded by vineyards, and vineyards are excellent fire breaks.”

Limerick Lane Wines, Jake Bilbro

Overall, vintners estimate that the region lost only about five percent of its harvest to fire and smoke — not a perfect outcome, but better than in 2017, when wildfire struck with only about 90% of the harvest in. The remaining grapes weren’t all lost, but that year’s vintages were rumored to have a “smoky” taste, and winemakers were taking no chances this year.

“My family has lived on this property for 130 years,” Munselle said. “We’ve never seen it burn from the tops of mountains to the valley floor.”

Munselle Vineyards, Bret Munselle

So the tourism bureau now plans to promote wine country as a spring destination rather than fall, and is devoting the bulk of its $750,000 advertising budget to that end. That means convincing visitors to come celebrate “bud break,” when green shoots make the vineyards colorful, rather than the harvest itself.

Read the full story from the Associated Press here: https://apnews.com/2faddb3baaaa430399d8e1fd20cfa942