UCD Smoke Exposure Research Project

NVG is working with UC Davis to advance research on wine grape smoke exposure in the aftermath of the Pickett Fire. If you believe your grapes may have been affected, we are urgently requesting vineyard samples to support this important study.

By contributing, you will help enhance air quality modeling and aid in the development of a rapid, cost-effective tool to assess smoke risk. All data will remain confidential, and while results will be shared with participants, they are intended for research purposes only not for guiding immediate harvest or winemaking decisions. 

To participate: 

• Email Arran Rumbaugh and Ben O'Dwyer stating the number of samples you can provide.
• After you receive confirmation, pick up clean 5-gallon bucket(s) in Oakville (7855 St. Helena Highway) between now and Friday, September 26, 2025.
• Collect one 5-gallon bucket of clusters per grape variety (up to two per vineyard), labeling each with variety, date/time of harvest, and vineyard GPS coordinates. Priority varieties: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel.
• Drop off samples at the NVG office in Napa (831 Latour Court, Suite A).

This unfortunate fire event gives us a critical chance to build tools that will protect growers for years to come. Thank you for contributing to research that benefits the entire Napa Valley community.