Mark Izydore is the co-manager of CJ Consultants in Jupiter, Florida, co-managing a financial and healthcare advisory company that offers complex litigation strategies and solutions to attorneys and physicians throughout the United States. Beyond his professional endeavors, Mark Izydore is proficient in California wine.

Wildfires have increasingly threatened California's renowned wine country in recent years. The hotter, drier conditions fueled by climate change have made the region more prone to devastating wildfires. In the fall of 2020, the Glass Fire raged through Napa and Sonoma counties, burning over 67,000 acres and destroying hundreds of homes and businesses.

Grape harvest season from August through October coincides with peak wildfire season, placing vineyard workers in a difficult position. Picking grapes in heavy smoke poses serious health risks. Also, one estimate found that 80 percent of Napa Valley's 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon grapes may not be usable for wine due to smoke exposure and other fire impacts.

Furthermore, parts of Napa County have burned multiple times in the last decade. In 2020, the Glass Fire damaged over two dozen wineries and vineyards. Though its buildings survived, iconic Castello di Amarosa lost five million dollars of wine stock in the blaze. Owners work to salvage what they can from damaged sites but face an uncertain future in an area becoming increasingly fire-prone each year.

Climate change-altering temperatures and rain patterns now endanger California's 40 billion dollar wine industry through intensifying wildfires. Adaptation strategies are urgently needed to protect the land, livelihoods, and legacy of the state's celebrated wine country.