As the polar ice caps melt away, and the oceans get warmer by a degree or two, winegrowing areas such as Napa, Sonoma Valley and other warm climate regions could become unsuitable for premium grape growing. Some scientists predict that the average temperature in the southwest United States could rise by several degrees, making California a less than perfect region for growing grapes.
This may lead some to start stocking away their Napa Valley Cabs and Merlots. However, any such changes should occur gradually, and probably wouldn't be noticable for a century or more. In fact, the average temperatures in the southwest U.S. have risen by a degree or so in the last hundred years, and the principal grape growing areas have remained virtually unchanged.
