California Wine Grape Harvest Falls 8%, As Washington Reaches New Record
February 11, 2015California’s wine grape harvest was down 8% to 3.91 million tons in 2014, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Despite the decline in volume compared with the Golden State’s 4.25-million-ton harvest in 2013, last year’s crop still ranks as the third-largest on record. Red wine grapes’ average price per ton rose 4% to $883, while white wine grapes’ averaged $588 per ton, down 6% from a year ago. Production of Chardonnay, the largest-volume variety in the state, decreased 6% to 716,000 tons in 2014, while Cabernet Sauvignon totaled 511,000 tons, a decline of 2.5%. Pinot Noir also declined, down 7% to 243,000 tons, despite an increasing presence in the Central Coast region, and Zinfandel production fell 24% to 355,000 tons, the biggest drop of any variety.
Meanwhile, Washington’s 2014 wine grape harvest registered a new record for the state, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Washington’s annual crush grew 8% last year to reach 227,000 tons, up from 2013’s 210,000 tons. Another record year is expected this year barring any significant weather events. White varieties grew 16% from the previous year and made up 53% of 2014’s total harvest, with Riesling topping the state’s grapes with 50,500 tons harvested, or 22% of the total.
Chardonnay was Washington’s second-ranked varietal with a 19% increase to 43,800 tons. Red varieties rose 1% from 2013. Cabernet Sauvignon grew 19% to 42,200 tons and Merlot ranked fourth overall with a 16% increase to 36,900 tons. The state now has more than 850 licensed wineries, about 100 more than were licensed in 2012. Washington is the second-largest wine grape producing state, following California.
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Tagged : California, Washington, wine
