A recently released Stanford University study asserts that higher temperatures associated with global warming trends could negatively impact "high value" California vineyards. According to an LA Times story about the research, the hotter weather could cut approximately one-half of current wine production. The areas most likely to be affected would be Napa and Santa Barbara counties.If the projected temperatures become an everyday fact, then the wine most severely challenged would most likely be Pinot Noir. This particular variety of grape is notoriously finicky about climate and soil. It typically grows best in cooler regions, with Burgundy being the paradigm. It's challenging for Napa wine producers to manage conditions for optimal Pinot Noir growth. A temperature increase would raise the odds of Pinot Noir wines being successfully cultivated in that region.
The hotter weather would also impact flagship Cabernet Sauvignon vintners that shape Napa's reputation for quality.
All this doom and gloom doesn't mean wine can't be produced in Napa or Santa Barbara. On the contrary. Wine does grow in hot weather climates, with Sicily, Spain, and Portugal being three prime examples. They do demonstrate a different character than their Burgundian competition. Reds from the Mediterranean's warmest regions are typically heavier and stronger than Pinot Noir. However, the financially daunting implications for vineyards would certainly cast a shadow over Napa's and Santa Barbara's wine business. New vines would have to be planted and nurtured over a number of years. Wines would require appropriate branding and acceptance from consumers. Some high-end vineyards would not be able to continue producing limited runs for an exclusive clientele.
I suppose the moral of the story is "get it while you can."
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