Wine Grape Growers Concerned About Wildfire Smoke
The Executive Director of Wine Yakima Valley says while other wine regions are concerned about the impact of wildfire smoke on wine grapes the concern isn't as great here in the county. Barb Glover says the reason the concern isn't as great here as it is in Oregon or California is the amount of time the wine grapes in this area spent under the cloud of smoke. Glover says the grapes in the Yakima Valley were exposed to the smoke for only about a week and so the ashy flavor other areas are worried about may not happen in the Yakima Valley. She says Researchers are WSU Cooperative Extension Prosser are studying the impact the smoke may have on local wine grapes.
California growers say the fires will be the single worst disaster in the wine-grape growing community.