Scorched, Parched and Now Uninsurable: Climate Change Hits Wine Country

[turbinetree]

Sunscreen on grapes. Toilet water that is treated and used for irrigation. Napa Valley winemakers are taking extreme steps in the face of climate change.

By Christopher Flavelle

Published July 18, 2021Updated July 20, 2021, 5:47 a.m. ET

ST. HELENA, Calif. — Last September, a wildfire tore through one of Dario Sattui’s Napa Valley wineries, destroying millions of dollars in property and equipment, along with 9,000 cases of wine.

November brought a second disaster: Mr. Sattui realized the precious crop of cabernet grapes that survived the fire had been ruined by the smoke. There would be no 2020 vintage.

A freakishly dry winter led to a third calamity: By spring, the reservoir at another of Mr. Sattui’s vineyards was all but empty, meaning little water to irrigate the new crop.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/18/climate/napa-wine-heat-hot-weather.html?utm_source=pocket-newtab

[haele]

1. Nothing wrong with irrigating using grey or even treated black water

In fact, Navy ships regularly recycle and treat grey water to become fresh drinking water when underway, and it's safe.
More communities should practice grey water and toilet water recycling for general freshwater use.

The sunscreen on grapes rather worries me though.

Haele

[orwell]

2. Native Californian...

...living in the county above Napa.

5 years of drought and fire have decimated this area.

And yet, some of the highest real estate prices in the US.

Everyone has lost their frickin' minds...

[mopinko]

3. my brother is in placerville.

he just built a paralympics winter training camp at tahoe.
they have snow machines, but....