Wildfires, as seen here in July 2026 in Spain, can affect vineyards and their grapes with “smoke taint.” This organic compound is one of the main indicators of whether wine grapes and their vines have been impacted by wildfire smoke. There are no horticultural sprays that can protect these grapes from smoke taint, according to the Australian Wine Research Institute. Red wine may have a greater potential for smoke taint because the grapes are processed with the skin intact, where the ashy compounds are stored, whereas white wine grapes are not, according to the Washington State Wine Commission. Wine grape growers don’t have to wait until the wine is made to know whether their grapes have been affected.