Poor Pinot: Wildfires Affect Grapes

Wildfire smoke in California, Washington, and Oregon has impacted harvest operations and crop quality. Of particular concern: wine grapes in Napa and Sonoma counties in California.

The grapes may not be harvestable due to smoke impacting wine flavor.

Oregon, Washington, and California combined produce 90 percent of all U.S. wine. Total losses to smoke taint are unknown because damage is highly variable.

Wildfires are creating numerous other difficulties for growers, with ash coating fruits and vegetables in fields and smoke compromising the safety of field workers who lack access to N95 masks and thus slowing field operations.

Source: CoBank