Climate change could devastate US wineries

AP via Boston.com ^ | 10 July 2006 | Randolph E. Schmid

[Fractal Trader]

Climate warming could spell disaster for much of the multibillion-dollar U.S. wine industry. Areas suitable for growing premium wine grapes could be reduced by 50 percent -- and possibly as much as 81 percent -- by the end of this century, according to a study Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The paper indicates increasing weather problems for grapes in such areas as California's Napa and Sonoma valleys.

The main problem: An increase in the frequency of extremely hot days, according to Noah Diffenbaugh of the department of earth and atmospheric sciences at Purdue University.

Grapes used in premium wines need a consistent climate. When temperatures top about 95 degrees they have problems maintaining photosynthesis and the sugars in the grapes can break down, Diffenbaugh said in a telephone interview.

"We have very long-term studies of how this biological system (of vineyards) responds to climate," said Diffenbaugh, and that gives the researchers confidence in their projection. Diffenbaugh is a co-author of the paper.

Scientists and environmental experts have become increasingly alarmed in recent years by accumulating gasses such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as a result of the burning of fossil fuels.

[muawiyah]

"My fears turned immediately to Ripple and Thunderbird. Certainly they wouldn't be endangered by the dred runaway Greenhouse Effect.

Immediately, I punched in the code for my shaman. He'd have the answers, and some good dope too eh!"

[Sam's Army]

"Climate change could devastate US wineries"

Counterpoint: Or, it couldn't...film at 11

[sageb1]

Just another example of leftist terror tactics. Keep 'em scared and "all that stuff."

[Trajan88]

Oh the humanity... guess I'll have to resort to...

[JSteff]

"Climate warming could spell disaster for much of the multibillion-dollar U.S. wine industry. "

I don't care. Australian wines are the best anyway... oh, NZ wines are good too.

[SierraWasp]

Yeah, plus they're freakin out over people buildin enough housing in CA to make it affordable again like it was after WWII!!!

It's just SOUR GRAPES from the GovernMental EnvironMental Communutty!!!

They hate the evil R.E. Devilopers who try to practice normal investment backed expectations (capitalism) with the dirt they all worship!!!

Oh! And they think they can save the "old growth" forest this way, too!!!

Oh! And they think they can save the rivers from anymore dams this way too!!!

Oh! And they think they can head off anymore scenarios like the oil tanker spill in Alaska, or anywhere else this way too!!!

They think eveyone but THEM is like the cast of "Waterworld!"

Pretty soon there's gonna be a glut of "TWO BUCK CHUCK!"

Are you all gonna let THEM stampede you? Or are you gonna learn how to stand up to these challenges and "Question Pseudo-Authority" and "Junk Science?" What???

[A message]

The paper indicates increasing weather problems for grapes in such areas as California's Napa and Sonoma valleys.

Bah humbug!

This is a summer like any other summer I've lived in NoCal California with beautiful wine growing weather. Temperatures have been steady, and throughly consistent with past years.

These warmies live in hallucination ville.

[Foolsgold]

Seems to me that King Arthur, in Camelot had his vineyards producing the nectar of the gods, oh sorry that was before GLOBAL COOLING

[mathurine]

Minnesota merlot, Canadian cabernet, and for that matter in California and environs, just move on up the mountains and re-establish-- you'll have to anyway when the fault defaults and the ocean moves inland.

[Centurion2000]

The paper indicates increasing weather problems for grapes in such areas as California's Napa and Sonoma valleys.

Well then the whineries (this is California) will just move up to Yakima and East Oregon. Besides, volcanic soil is good for grapes.

[SierraWasp]

OMG! Don't bring up the Frenchies!! All the EU Soccer freaks will get visions of "The Butt" seen 'round the world!!!

[expatpat]

Now, their scare tactics are getting vicious! Next, they will suggest that poison ivy will take over the wine industry.

[THX 1138]

Talk about your redundant stories...

The chardonnay-sipping plutocrats are already on board for global warming...

[Waco]

Kali Libs. It's late. Jump!!!!!

[samm1148]

Strangely missing is the fact that the warming trend cannot be extended into the future because the models employed by the environmental fanatics cannot stand up to the statistical uncertaintanty that occurs after TEN days.

Just ask the next global warming believer what the average temperature NEXT MONTH is going to be. Don't you think that if they can't tell you about next month then it follows that they can't tell you about one hundred years from now?

[Waco]

And try not ding-up any SUV's eh?

[SierraWasp]

"Just ask the next global warming believer what the average temperature NEXT MONTH is going to be."

Oh, but their faith is as but a mustard seed!

Oh, and don't forget... their only interested in... THE GOOD OF ALL!!! (that makes them sanctified)

[ChildOfThe60s]

Global warming is going to cause severe damage to the female population's libido. And I'm going to get rich selling this:

Order now before the rush starts........./snigger

[WideGlide]

I'm looking forward to the northern BC and Alberta wines. Maybe an audacious little Arctic Circle Chablis. (:^*)

[dalereed]

Tear out some of them and build houses, there is a wing glut in the world anyway, no one will miss it.