NEWSER) – The long drought in California is, of course, bad news for most in the agriculture business — but winemakers are seeing some real benefits. The lack of rain is actually leading to some of the best wine Napa and Sonoma counties have seen in a while, the Wall Street Journalreports.
There are a number of perks to the dryer weather: First, less water means smaller grapes, and that concentrates the flavor, notes a vineyard president. Then there's the fact that a lot of rain can mean moldy grapes. On top of that, the sun is making grapes riper earlier, and that allows a harvest before the threat of autumn storms.
"This year's vintage could be one for the ages," says a Pinot Noir specialist. Some drought-era results are already in: Cabernet Sauvignons from 2012 and 2013 managed a score of 96 in a consumer guide, whereas 2011's versions scored just 78 — and that was a rainy year. Last year's sales also hit a record $23.1 billion.
But that doesn't mean winemakers want the drought much longer: They face threats like salty soil, the Journal notes, while the Sacramento Bee reports that it takes at least a few gallons of water to make one glass of wine. "Too much rain will be as bad as too little rain," says the Pinot specialist.
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