Climate Change and Wine-Making

I just met a woman who has a close connection to Robert Mondavi, who, some time ago, had addressed a  group of about 25 extremely wealthy people and explained why he sold his $400 million and his father’s $600 million wine businesses. Why did they cash in their chips at this particular point in time, given that the industry, particularly for those who can play at the high-end, is going through the roof?

Climate change.

Mondavi told this tightly focused, high-powered group that, within the coming 10 years, global warming will make most of their holdings incapable of producing the quality of grapes that enabled them to sell certain vintages of their Opus One for ~$500 per bottle.

As one might have expected, a few of the uber-rich laughed up their sleeves. Climate change?  Isn’t that for the socialists?

According to what my new-found friend told me, Mondavi replied, “You’re entitled to whatever you want to believe.  In my family, we track with science, not Republican politics.  Make your own choices.  And good luck.”