Napa's moth quarantine

Contrary to some knee-jerk reports, the wine sky is not falling on Napa Valley, although a quarantine has been placed on a portion of its viticultural area in order to halt the spread of the European grapevine moth.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture imposed the quarantine on a 162-square mile area along Highway 29, including St Helena, Rutherford and Yountville, and dipping into smaller zones in Sonoma and Solano counties. Agricultural inspectors will regulate the 2010 harvest and the transport of grapes and other fruits to prevent the spread of the moth, whose larvae devour vines' flowers and...