Bucklin Old Hill Ranch Vineyards

A California Grape Surplus Could Lead to Rock Bottom Wine Prices in 2020 | Eater SF

"I learned that longstanding vineyard Bucklin's Old Hill Ranch had its 2017 crop rejected by big wine brands after Sonoma County wildfires left thick smoke on the fruit; the smoke deposited chemical compounds guaiacol and 4-methylguaiacol that cause a smoky taste or smell and produced smoke taint that made the grapes unsuitable for many wineries. Smoke taint remained a problem into 2018, contributing to wider regional losses (a Winegrape Commission survey estimated Lake County wineries lost $37.1 million in grapes that had to be dumped) and illustrating how the 2017–2018 fires severely disrupted grape sales and acceptance." - Eve Batey