Posted on 01/21/2006 1:18:01 PM PST by george76
In the fog-shrouded forests of California's remote North Coast, winemakers believe they've found the perfect terrain to grow the notoriously fickle pinot noir grape prized by connoisseurs.
Vineyard developers are snapping up thousands of acres of redwoods and firs in Sonoma County, with plans to clear the trees and plant the once-obscure varietal made famous by the wine-fueled road trip film "Sideways."
Environmentalists and residents in Annapolis, a tiny town about 140 miles north of San Francisco, are trying to rein in the pinot lovers.
"If you've seen the movie, you've seen the glassy-eyed stare they have when they talk about their plans to produce pinot noir up here,"...
"We feel it's much more important for future generations to have forests on these hills than wine grapes."
As demand for California wine grows, vintners are looking for new terrain beyond traditional wine-growing regions such as the Napa and Sonoma valleys, where available land is scarce and expensive.
A group of Annapolis residents formed Friends of the Gualala River and teamed up with the Sierra Club and other environmental groups to protect the forests.
They say there isn't enough water to support more vineyards, which pollute the river and soil and threaten salmon and other wildlife with runoff.
"We're not saying you shouldn't drink wine.
We're saying there are more appropriate lands to grow wine grapes on," said Keith Kaulum, a local Sierra Club activist.
Currently, landowners who want to convert timberlands must apply for a permit from the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, a process that usually requires a rigorous series of environmental studies.
(Excerpt) Read more at sunherald.com ...
Okay, environmentalist wackos opposing urban sprawl at least makes sense. But opposing the spread of plants? What is this?
Nimby, Nimby, change is evil!
If they do not like wine plants, then they should buy that land.
Wine news ping.
Oenology news ping.
If it hadn't just flooded there this month, that claim might be more credible.
But buying land is something capitalists do! And capitalism is evil! They would never stoop to such base means.
Enviro-whackos vs. California liberal wine snobs. Does it get any better? I think not.
The environmentalist wackos are discriminating against plants on the basis of species! They are racists!
This should be fun to watch.
Who has the popcorn ?
Don't fret, they're buying as much land as they can get their grubby little fingers on, and they're doing it with your tax dollars.
Think 'conservency'.
Once obscure? When, before Louis the XIV?
They ran out the timber industry and now they're after the vineyards. To the same ends. No jobs. No local industry except real estate sales where the locals can live off the money made from other people with real jobs in the cities.
Good One...
"('Only thing worse than a Frenchman is a Frenchman who lives in Canada' - Ted Nugent.) "
LOL
/johnny
I'm a fish-hugger, but properly maintained vineyards shouldn't use any chemicals other than perhaps copper sulfate. There should be little to no change in runoff with reasonable soil management techniques. A grape plant or a pine tree plant shouldn't operate too differently. Just make sure you protect a wide riparian strip.
The Sierra Club is running out of excuses.
sent to N CA son.
Please add me to your wine list!
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