Feb 12th, 2008 · In the vineyards of the Penedes Valley, makers of the sparkling wine known as "cava" are taking steps to address the effects of climate change on their product. They are adding nutrients to the soil, using satellites to monitor vineyard conditions and trying new grape varieties.
Sep 15th, 2007 · This is harvest time for winemakers across California. But this season, corporate wine investors have made the splashiest headlines -- by plucking well-respected winemakers for their investment portfolios. Stag's Leap, Atlas Peak, Robert Mondavi...the list of former independents goes on and on. Lovers of these particular labels may lament the buyouts, but entrepreneurs are still flourishing in the fields of Wine Country.
Aug 29th, 2007 · Along Brazil's Sao Francisco River, thousands of poor people are living with no running water while neighboring agriculture giants and vineyards have limitless access to water -- for virtually pennies. In the dry, depressed state of Pernambuco in the arid northeast, a 12-year-old girl fell to her death trying to "poach" water from a canal meant to irrigate fields. Her family's ramshackle settlement sits amid luxurious fields of fruits and vegetables all destined for export. Nearby, one of the country's most successful vineyards uses millions of liters of water, paying little more than $2,000 a year for the water rights. Access to water in Brazil is as unequal as incomes and education.
May 2nd, 2007 · Once upon a time in Britain, moors were covered in golden wheat and vineyards flourished. Now, farmers are flirting with England's first tea crop. What gives? The archaeological record shows that as temperatures shift, farmers try out new crops in new lands.
Apr 30th, 2007 · The cherry trees, camellias and magnolias are in bloom this week at the Polly Hill Arboretum at Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts -- a fitting tribute to Polly Hill, the legendary horticulturalist who died last week at 100. Hill began planting seeds outside her West Tisbury home more than four decades ago.
Mar 28th, 2007 · Vineyards and wine invoke images of rolling hills and sun-drenched valleys. But in New York City, wine has taken on an urban grit as city-dwellers learn to grow grapes on roofs and balconies.
Dec 13th, 2006 · Trash might be the secret to making San Francisco vineyards thrive. Each day, recycling trucks around the city collect tons of kitchen scraps from hotels and restaurants. The material is turned into nutrient-rich soil additive that is in high demand at area vineyards.
Sep 20th, 2006 · The recent battles between Israel and Hezbollah militants harmed many businesses in Lebanon -- especially the nation's winemakers. The war virtually stopped farm workers from harvesting the vineyards, or export bottles out of Lebanon.