CLIMATE change is a ticking time-bomb for Australia's $5.5 billion wine industry and threatens some of our favourite wines with extinction, a study has revealed. CSIRO climate change scientist and wine expert Leanne Webb examined ripening times across Australia and found grapes were maturing faster in recent warmer temperatures, affecting quality and taste. Some growers say they are already modifying their winemaking to cope with the effects and at least one major player is taking steps to move production further south.