Tremendous flooding in California's wine country over New Year's made for dramatic, televised scenes of almost completely submerged vineyards. California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger added to the excitement, proclaiming, "Napa was 4 feet under water, creating tremendous damage."

The Napa Valley Vintners Association (NVVA) said that their phones had been ringing off the hook with press and trade customers who were worried about their favorite vineyards being seriously harmed or even destroyed. Heavy rains fell throughout Northern California, and initial statewide damage estimates of more than $100 million fueled speculation of extensive vineyard losses.

Yet despite the seriousness of the flooding in both Napa and Sonoma -- the two counties that together produce nearly all of California's most expensive bottlings -- the region's vineyards emerged with almost no long-term damage because of the time of the year that the storms hit.