Thursday, October 13, 2005

It just may be smoke and mirrors

Even USA Today talks about it: California Wineries Targeted for Smog.

There is a new concern for the winemakers in California. They are being told to cut down on the emission caused by the winemaking processes.

"Now air-quality managers in California's San Joaquin Valley, where nearly two-thirds of domestic wine is produced, are cracking down. By year's end, local officials will propose the nation's first restrictions targeting pollution from winemaking."

But please note that when the authorities talk about it,

" 'We have regulated virtually all other significant (non-vehicle) sources, some a lot smaller than wineries,'says San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District planning director Scott Nester. Winemaking pollution 'is significant, and it is completely uncontrolled.' "

they do emphasize "non-vehicle" sources. I wonder if that includes the "emissions" that cows produce, or the carbon dioxide produced by all those plants around us.

Think outside of the box

Wine drinkers are no longer snobbish about their wines, as long as the quality is preserved. That could be in a bottle, in a box, corked or with a screw top.

The Mercury News has a nice article, "Wine anyone? Sure just pass the box".