After two consecutive years of 4 million ton harvests, this year’s harvest is predicted to be nearer 3.7 or 3.8 million tons, according to industry publication Wines & Vines. There are numerous reasons for the decline.
The drought in California has affected the size of the harvest but the quality is excellent. For growers in areas other than the north coast, which includes Napa and Sonoma, it has been a tough year if they didn’t have contracts for their grapes. Because the yields for the last two years have been so much higher than normal, wineries have wine on hand and do not need to stockpile the 2014 vintage. Storage space can also be a problem. There is competition from imported bulk wine often blended by the major wineries in their lower priced wines.
Some farmers will pull their vines in favor of nut trees. Pistachios are particularly hot right now and a growth area. They use less water and can generate as much as $18,000 an acre.
Even if smaller, all signs point to a third year of excellent quality. California supplies 64% of all wines purchased in the United States.
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