Study Finds Climate Change Could Threaten California Wine Industry

Climate change is not just an environmental threat, but a wine industry threat.

According to a Standford University Study released last week, the effects of global warming in the next 30 years could adversely impact wine production in California's Napa and Santa Barbara Counties. The Los Angeles Times reports that high-value vineyards in California could shrink by 50% because of climate change.

These projections could heavily affect California's $16.5-billion wine industry, which produces more than 5 million gallons per year on 500,000 acres of vineyards and accounts for nearly 90% of the nation's total wine production, according to the Wine Institute, a state winemakers trade organization.  Also note that a majority of African American owned vineyards (6 out of 12 registered with the Association of African American Vintners) are located in California.