Market research
Trade body Napa Valley Vintners is working to allay fresh fears over smoke taint after another fire broke out in the region.
The Jerusalem fire started on 9 August and two days later it spread to land on the edge of Napa County. But, Napa Valley Vintners said yesterday that "marine-influenced winds continue to blow in a west/south-west to east/north-east direction away from Napa Valley. No Napa County vineyards or wineries are threatened by this fire."
The trade body said it had not received any reports of damage caused by smoke taint on the 2015 wine grape harvest from the Rocky fire, which broke out at the end of July.
"The beginning of Napa valley’s Cabernet Sauvignon harvest is still a month away. There have been no reports of discernable smoke taint in Napa Valley as a result of either of these fires," Napa Valley Vintners said.
Matt Crafton, wine maker at Chateau Montelena told the trade body: "We’re at the top of the Napa Valley and haven’t experienced any smoke at all in our vineyards. While we’ll continue to remain vigilant, the prevailing southwesterly winds have kept it a ways off."
Sectors: Environmental issues, Wine
