Perfect Storm
by Steve Fredricks
We are nearing a wrap to harvest for one of the most difficult years for the wine industry since Prohibition. Grape and bulk wine buying activity at the end of the season continues to be generally low statewide, with only a few opportunistic plays in the North Coast and Paso Robles and very little activity to replace grapes unfortunately rejected in any region.
The 2025 vintage was a perfect storm that came to a head at harvest. Among the multitude of challenges this year were a cooler growing season, low vineyard inputs due to diminished prices, minimal grape demand leading to uncontracted fruit, and multiple rain events during harvest which increased disease pressure on grapes already struggling to reach minimum Brix. Statewide, there are still many tons on the vine with multiple rain events in the latter half of October essentially ending harvest for many growers. Despite these challenges, there are numerous reports of very good quality wines.
Projecting total tons crushed in 2025 will be particularly difficult due to the lack of accurate information on acres removed, unfarmed acres, and the number of acres unharvested. What is clear, however, is that wineries have planned to go light on the 2025 vintage due to conservative sales forecasting and financial limitations amid sliding consumer sales trends. It is also clear that the incredible challenges this year will result in what is likely to be the lightest crop on record since the mid-1990s and will be impactful in the future market transition from excess to balance.
- Forward Thinking Strategy
- Bulk Market
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Pinot Grigio
- Pinot Noir
- Other Reds
- Crop Contest
- Turrentine on the Road
- Market Opportunities