Yes, NPR, Wine Grapes Can and Have Endured Climate Change
13 hours ago Anthony Watts
A September 9th story published by National Public Radio (NPR) asked the question: Can the most popular red wine in the U.S. endure climate change? The answer is yes, despite the story falsely suggesting the opposite. Data suggests that Napa valley grapes have survived hotter temperatures in the past, and despite over 30 years of modest global warming, grape production has actually increased in the area.
Here are some excerpts of the article:
But increasingly severe heat waves are taking a toll on the grape variety, especially in late summer during ripening. As temperatures keep rising, the wine industry is slowly confronting a future where Napa may not be the prime cabernet region it once was.
…
The vineyard is already at the hotter northern end of Napa Valley, but the extreme heat in recent years has been a wake-up call. A late-summer heat wave in 2022 hit temperatures just under 120 degrees at the vineyard, she says.
“When it gets that hot, the vines, they’re done,” she says. “They’re going to go dormant, and when that happens, they’re not ripening anymore.”
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2024/09/14/yes-npr-wine-grapes-can-and-have-endured-climate-change/
