California winery hires earthworms to clean up its wastewater

Next time you open a bottle of merlot or chardonnay, be sure to thank the vintner. And you might want to toast the worms, as well. Everyday earthworms are the latest solution to a thorny problem that most wine drinkers never consider: wastewater disposal. Producing a single glass of California wine may require as much as 14 gallons of water. Much of that water is used to clean the winery and bottling equipment after processing grapes.