Food & Beverage International

FEBRUARY 10, 2009

2008 California Wine Harvest Is Light With Excellent Quality:
Vintners and Growers Work Through Challenging Frost and Dry Conditions

SAN FRANCISCO - The 2008 California winegrape harvest brought in an estimated 3.05 million tons, down six percent from 3.25 million winegrape tons crushed in 2007, according to today's Preliminary Grape Crush Report from the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Lighter yields in the state's winegrape vineyards resulted from a dramatic growing season last year beginning with below normal winter rainfall, an extended April frost that reduced quantity in many regions of the state, followed by ideally mild summer and fall temperatures with no precipitation. Berry size was small throughout California, and, combined with the lighter yields, resulted in excellent quality fruit. The total crush of wine, raisin and table varieties was 3.67 million tons.

"We are well under expected yields for the third straight year. Lighter than normal with lighter cluster weights and smaller clusters," said Tom Rinaldi, Director of Winemaking at Hewitt/Provenance Vineyards in the Rutherford area of Napa Valley. "Overall, we are pleased with the deep colors, variety of flavors, nice balance, elegant style, and rarity of the wines."

Winemaker Kevin Sass of Justin Vineyard & Winery in Paso Robles agreed with the assessment of a challenging but high quality crush. "Yields were down in Cabernet Sauvignon and related varietals due to shatter, small cluster sets and, in some cases, because of the early spring frost. The low yields did produce some great wine; the problem is there will be a shorter supply of wines from 2008."

Vintner David Lucas of The Lucas Winery in Lodi added that "2008 was a remarkable year for Lodi's large population of old vine Zinfandel; little stress, not much pressure, no heavy burdens. Lodi produced small tight grape clusters, deep obsidian color, bright acids, and fully textured tannins yielding wines of great promise. For many red vineyards, yields were less than our crystal ball forecast. The white varieties yield was close to estimates, with intense citrus, lime and Pippen apple flavors in the Chardonnay. A year when great vineyards required little winemaking...mostly tending."

"California has had three moderate to light crops since the record 2005 harvest which has put the supply/demand cycle in a balanced position, given the inventory that we have at our brokerage," said Glenn Proctor of Ciatti Company in San Rafael. "The industry is continuing to drive the quality/value quotient to produce a flavor profile and price point that consumers like and accept."

Bill Turrentine of Turrentine Brokerage in Novato concurred. "The last two times we have gone into a recession, the wine business has been in a state of oversupply. This time the situation is much better. Growing sales and a lack of new planting has drained excess supplies and inventories are in relative balance. Though everyone is dealing with the current challenges of a bad economy, the long-term challenge will be to prepare for the growing purchases of wine by millennial consumers and the eventual economic recovery," he said.

The volume growth of California shipments slowed, but still grew two percent last year to an estimated 196.3 million cases, according to preliminary numbers presented by wine industry consultant Jon Fredrikson of Gomberg-Fredrikson & Associates at the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium last month.

To maintain the momentum of California wine, Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers joined together last year to expand communications to consumers and public policy audiences about the unique and positive aspects of California wine. "Through our "California First" campaign, we convey messages about how the state's wine industry generates billions of dollars in economic activity in California, is a popular travel destination, and produces high quality wine in a sustainable manner," said Robert P. (Bobby) Koch, President and CEO of Wine Institute.

For a copy of the entire Preliminary 2008 Grape Crush Report for California, go online to: (click here). The final report will be issued in one month.

Established in 1934, the Wine Institute is the public policy advocacy group of 1,100 California wineries and affiliated businesses that initiate and advocate state, federal and international public policy to enhance the environment for the responsible production, consumption and enjoyment of wine. The Wine Institute membership represents 85 percent of U.S. production and 95 percent of U.S. wine exports. For more information about Wine Institute, go to www.wineinstitute.org. For more information about California wine and visiting California wine country, go to www.discovercaliforniawine.com.

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