Forget the drought. Grapevines can deal with water shortages. Some California winegrowers have an even bigger problem these days: marijuana.
No, it’s not that people are choosing to get high instead of drink wine. Wineries in northern California aren’t competing with marijuana for customers, they’re competing for workers, particularly in Mendocino, the epicentre of the domestic marijuana industry.
‘When we need help in the vineyard around harvest time, we put out signs that we’re looking for pickers', says Martha Barra of Redwood Valley Vineyards. ‘People will usually stop by and apply for the job, but this year none did. I...