On Jul 12, 12:54*am, "Potblak" > wrote:
> Your lady winemaker friend might feel a little better if she heard my pal's
> tale of woe.
> Arriving at dusk to his 300 acre hobby farm in Western Australia to pick his
> lovely crop of prize-winning Sangiovese grapes, he could see in the failing
> light his vines with their bunches of grapes.
> Or so he thought.
> The morning light revealed that thirsty kangaroos had kicked down his 6 foot
> fence and literally sucked each grape dry.
> I suppose they didn't have a taste for the tannins.
>
> "Agent Red" > wrote in message
>
> ...
>
> >I speak with wineries around the country every day. *Lately, I have
> > been talking with an increasing number of Napa wineries. *I always
> > make it a point to ask them what is happening in the vineyards.
> > Overwhelmingly, they tell me of either frost or fires.
>
> > Most wineries escaped the unusual frost of last may, but one that I
> > spoke with just today told me that she lost 50% of her beautiful
> > fruit.
>
> > When discussing the fires around California, most wineries are
> > unaffected. *Incredibly, one winery told me that the real danger, to
> > Chardonnay grapes in particular, comes from rains that occur while
> > there is a great deal of smoke in the air. *A few years back, the
> > rains came during a particularly smokey day - and the winemaker and
> > vineyard manager watch, helplessly, as their young Chardonnay grapes
> > literally melted!
>
> > I am happy to report that, for the most part, the grapes and vineyards
> > are in great shape. *There is a great deal of new plantings taking
> > place and it looks like the 2008 vintage, while a tiny bit smaller,
> > will be a great one.
>
> > - Agent Red

Time to get an electric fence!