Climate Change

"Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?" by The Clash might describe the thinking of wineries and grape growers.

 

Cabernet in Napa's Coombsville AVA
image from Wine Spectator

So you don't believe in climate change? That's your choice, but if you ask anyone involved with growing wine grapes they'll tell you the growing season is warming up and it's changing the wines made. Too much heat changes the color and flavors of a wine. 

What can be done? 

1. The Chardonnay or Cabernet vineyard can move to a cooler microclimate. Just east of the town of Napa is the newish Coombsville growing area. Its proximity to the bay means a cooler climate than the well-known AVAs just north of Napa like Rutherford and Oakville. Some wineries are getting their Cabernet Sauvignon from Coombsville now.
   
   
2. Where the  Chard or Cab was you can plant something that likes it warmer, such as Viognier or Tempranillo. This is a long and expensive undertaking. It's at least three years before you get quality grapes; five years before you get to full production. Then there's the time in the cellar before release of the bottled wine. And when you're all done, does anyone want your Viognier or Tempranillo?
   
   
3. Make changes in the vineyard. Canopy mangement, such as leaving more leaf cover, or changing irrigation. More dramatic would be changing the trellising to minimize sun exposure. Going from a vertical trellising like is popular now to a horizontal trellising for better sun and wind management means a lot of work in the vineyard and likely a loss of production for a few years.