We have reported previously about the global warming fears in Spain 's wine industry. Now, reports the San Francisco Chronicle quoting a new study, Americans may have another reason to worry about global warming.

Apart from rising seas and disappearing polar bears, climate upheavals could just wipe out premium wine grapes growing in California 's Napa , Sonoma and Santa Barbara counties by the end of this century.

An increase in the number of very hot days during the growing seasons would make California 's richest wine-producing regions unsuitable for the finest grapes, under the scenario published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. [Or maybe, California 's wine producers will have to change their growing cycle, like their compatriots in India.]

Yet some internationally acclaimed climate experts caution that models aren't yet good enough to predict effects on future agriculture and at best can only suggest possible outcomes.

Despite these cautionary comments, the study's authors say predictions of losing the best growing land for the state's US$2.9-billion wine industry bring home the importance of climate in farm production.

For the complete story, go to www.sfgate.com

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/07/11/WINE.TMP