Wine tours greatly affected by California Drought

Things are going from bad to worse as California experiences worst spring drought in 150 years.

“We’re in a dry spell if not a drought,” said California Secretary for Resources Mike Chrisman. “We’re in the second year, and if we’re looking at a third year, we’re talking about a serious problem.”

Agriculture, which consumes about 80% of California’s water, is being hit the hardest. Many farmers are switching to crops that are less dependent on large volumes of water. A few avocado farmers cut all their trees down to stumps saying that they’ll wait until the water situation corrects itself before resuming their trade. It’s possible for farmers to switch crops but what of California Wine. It has taken some time but California wine has finally established itself as a respected wine. On top of the maturing of the California wine market there are tens of thousands of tourist that take part in California wine tours.

“We’re facing some pretty grim circumstances that call for some bold action - recycling water, desalinating water,” said Tim Quinn executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies. “Above and beyond that, we have to invest in the sustainability of this system that our grandfathers constructed in the middle of the last century. It was developed with the convenience of human beings in mind, not aquatic beings.” from the San Francisco Chronicle

This from the Sacramento Bee, not directly about those who operate California wine tours but gors to show how difficult things are becomming…

Daniel Weintraub: Old idea that’s new again: Rainwater harvesting — With California on the edge of drought and water restrictions already beginning in some areas, the state might soon be looking toward an ancient practice that is attracting renewed interest around the world: rainwater harvesting. Rainwater harvesting wouldn’t be a panacea, but for many people, it might at least be the difference between having a green yard or a brown one, or provide enough water to wash their car when they want to.

On top of the water problem operators of California wine tours have to worry about the effects that cold snap in April may have on their vines. The frosts hit all over northern California and will surely affect the size of the harvest. It could also have damaging effects on the buds that will produce the 2009 grapes.

It is not the best of times for California wine makers and the guys that operate California wine tours. Water problems, cold problems, the price of fuel for operating the vineyards and whatever else may be in store this summer. Personally I love California Wine so I hope they can put this year behind them and look a little further forward to many great years down the road.