With three separate articles on water rights in the past month [Dammed up water rights could flow again; St. Helena site for water rules hearing; and Washington State Grapples with Water], water could be the next oil in terms of its scarcity and desirability of a resource.

While irrigation is generally forbidden for vineyards in the EU, some special dispensations have been made, particularly during the heat wave of 2003. And, in drier areas of Spain, growers are feeling the pinch of global warming. Similarly, Australia’s inland vineyards have seen significant stress where irrigation practices have been halted due to the drought. (For obvious reasons, it is more important to provide the limited water to people instead of plants.)

In this vein, it is becoming increasingly difficult to successfully grow wine grapes in the absence of natural water. Consequently, at least in New World wine regions, obtaining water rights may be vital to sustaining viable vineyards. In Chile and Argentina, the problem of water access has yet to be a problem as the Andes snow melt provides a sufficient supply of fresh and reliable water. But, as the above referenced artices indicate, the water issue has come to the forefront for Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Washington State and Oregon.

In addition, although the current discussion relates to grape growing, it is likely that similar issues are facing farmers of other crops, putting additional pressure on the food supply of this and other countries. Further, as water is a crucial resource for all beings, not just plant species, the water crisis could become even more critical in the years ahead; perhaps even more so than the current oil crisis. I would think that, despite incredible difficulty, we can find ways to live without oil much more easily than we could to live without water. Consequently, the need to conserve water is more important than ever.