Well, I just received a harvest report from my Dad who lives in Lake Chapala, Mexico, about as mild a climate as is possible on earth. It rarely gets below 50 degrees or higher than 90 degrees. To see the town website and weather link, go to http://www.chapala.com
(WARNING: Do not click on the preceeding link if you are dreading winter or are sensitive about your climate!)

So much for the apple chilling hour theory. He harvested Esopus Spitzenburg, Rome Beauty, and Standard Delicious this year, and said they were good. He said they never did drop their leaves, the new ones just pushing out the old ones (which is what happens to Pink Lady and Granny Smith here in So. Calif). I laugh when I see folks in Zone 8 wondering if their zone is cold enough for apples.