Australian Wildfires Threaten to Produce ‘Ashtray’ Wine Vintage

Wildfires sweeping through southeast Australia are carrying with them the specter of a silent killer for grapes growing in the nearby Adelaide Hills wine region. The vineyards have so far escaped the direct ravages of the worst bushfires in 30 years but winemakers fear their grapes may have fallen victim to “smoke taint,” which results in wines that taste like an ashtray and can ruin an entire vintage. As fears grow that climate change is lengthening the time and severity of...

© La Voix de l'Amérique - mercredi 7 janvier 2015