Facing drought, wildfires, scorching heat, Bay Area wineries are changing how they grow grapes
California is in a second year of drought and for many North Bay grape growers, the hot, dry conditions mean lost crops. In 2020 some growers lost 20% or more of their crops because of dry conditions, fires, or smoke tainting the flavor of their grapes. As the climate warms, winemakers and grape growers are changing the direction they grow vines, picking earlier, covering crops with shade cloth, and adapting in other ways. … Some, like [winemaker John] Hamel, have shifted to dry farming and are using a lot less water or none at all.