Whither there’s weather, will the wine country wither?
Winegrape growers and winemakers are up to their armpits in activity right now, but the inclement wine country weather may have an impact. Read on for a glimpse into several stories currently unfolding.
Rain may affect this year’s Oregon pinot noir
Recent rains have been accelerating grape harvests all up and down the west coast in these last few days, including Pinot Noir grapes in Oregon’s Yamhill Valley. Up until last week, many industry wags were exclaiming that 2007 would be an outstanding year for Pinot and other grapes.
But now, faced with cool temperatures and underripe fruit, some growers may have to add sugar or grape concentrate to ramp up alcohol content. Harvesting in quick response to weather breaks, as well as true winemaking skills, are going to make the difference this year, say the growers, adding that the region’s 2007 vintage won’t be what consumers are used to.
I suppose the upshot of this news is that you don’t want to buy those futures like you might have been thinking about doing only 10 days ago. Instead, you might want to stock up now on what’s remaining of Oregon’s wonderful 2005 Pinot Noir vintage.
Contrast the story above with that of California’s Monterey County. While the harvest is down about 20% right now from last year, the grapes are high quality. Despite the low numbers, the 2007 harvest is seen to cause little or no change in wine prices for consumers, though an exception may exist for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir which have become increasingly popular with consumers but are in temporarily tight supplies.
Winemakers applaud block on Bush anti-illegal move
When winemakers need harvest help, seasonal farm workers need the money, and the system is not working, it’s possible that not much can go right with the 2007 harvest. Therefore, winemakers and grape growers are applauding a judge’s ruling that blocks President Bush’s crackdown on illegal immigrant workers.
Bush’s program (a polite term) would have forced California employers to fire as many as 3 million vineyard workers whose Social Security numbers do not match official records. The judge ruled it would do irreparable harm to innocent workers and employers.
This winehiker wonders if guest worker reform will ever be settled. All I know is that food and energy prices are already going up at an alarming rate. With a consistent demand for produce but a looming threat of sharply reduced supplies, it’s hard to justify paying more for grapes, lettuce, and avocadoes when much of it may not be picked. I sure don’t want us to have to start referring to Fred Franzia’s product as Twenty Buck Chuck because growers can’t hire people to pick their grapes. Unless, of course, we pick them ourselves.
Preserving Paso Robles as a brand
Paso Robles may just become the next Napa Valley. With 26,000 acres of vineyards, the area surrounding the Central Coast town is already officially recognized as an American Viticulture Area, or AVA. The powers that be want to protect the brand equity behind the Paso Robles name and, due to a new law, we may soon discover that the wines being produced there will bear the name Paso Robles on their labels.
The Paso Robles wine label bill is one of 750 our Governator has just signed into law. It could make Paso Robles the next big name in global wine circles. In fact, Napa Valley is the only other region in the country to have the same kind of label law.
Sustainability? What’s that?
Tina Caputo at Wines & Vines writes that sustainability has become a hot topic among members of the U.S. wine industry, with more and more vintners and growers embracing sustainable practices. But she highlights a new study being conducted at the Sustainable Agriculture Expo that questions whether consumers see a viable market for sustainable products.
Sustainability may not yet be a household word, but it is associated with living healthier, buying locally, acting socially and environmentally responsible, and living within one’s means. I think we’re going to be reading and hearing more about it.
For more information about the study, visit sustainableagexpo.org or call (805) 369-2288. Also read Tina Caputo’s story at Wines & Vines.
Online competition might lower wine prices
Science Daily references an Ohio State University study which suggests that an effective way to significantly reduce the price of American wine is to eliminate trade barriers between the states. According to the study, consumers are better off when local stores have to compete with online sellers.
When the laws allow consumers to get what they want, and pay less for it, everybody wins. And everybody wines! I think Tom Wark could have fun with this story, as only Tom can tell it. Who knows – maybe he’s poring over this study right now, glass in hand.
River Road Wine Trail Harvest Celebration
And finally on the lighter side of things, ten tasting rooms along Monterey County’s River Road Wine Trail will be hosting a Harvest Celebration on Saturday, October 27th, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. These ten wineries are Paraiso Winery, Hahn Estates, Pessagno Winery, Marilyn Remark Winery, Scheid Vineyards, Ventana Vineyards, Chalone Vineyard, Manzoni Wines, San Saba Vineyard and Blackstone Winery.
Many of these wineries will be offering barrel samples from this year’s crush. Additionally, special discounts on award-winning vintages will be offered. Admission is free and reservations are not required. For more information, check out RiverRoadWineTrail.com.
With headlines like that, you can stand in for Tom Mangan at that paper of his.
Keep it up.
Rick McCharlesOctober 16th, 2007 22:03