Do California Grapes Have Smoke Taint from Wildfires? Finding Out Isn’t So Easy
  • 4 years ago
As wildfires tore through California wine country, the immediate concern was protecting people's lives and property.But as the proverbial smoke clears, vineyards and wineries have to deal with the impact these fires had.And now smoke is a literal concern.This year's fires arrived earlier in the growing season, meaning more grapes were still on the vine, exposed to smoke.For vineyards that make their own wine, worries about smoke taint can lead to the choice of whether to use fruit or not.But the issue becomes even more complicated for growers that sell their grapes to outside winemakers.Makers can reject grapes with smoke-taint, but that requires extensive testing.Many samples have been cleared after testing, but labs are backed up with the manufacturing process on hold right now
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