CALISTOGA, California (KCRA) – California’s vineyards may be dormant during this time of year, but growers are already planning—and in some cases, worrying—about the upcoming season.
“Napa tends to be the last affected in this industry. I mean, Napa is so well known, but we’re starting to feel the pressure in Napa. There were grapes that were left unharvested in Napa this last year,” said Christian Klier, a grape broker with Turrentine Brokerage North Coast.
Last season, California had its smallest grape crop in 20 years, according to Turrentine.
Unusual weather, like a late heat wave before harvest, damaged some crops, but Klier said that wasn’t the main issue. “Wineries still didn’t need that fruit,” he explained.
The reason? Consumer demand for wine has dropped significantly, leading many growers to remove vines from their vineyards.
Turrentine says the biggest reason for the small harvest is the reduction of grape acreage.
“We’ve rested on our laurels with a generation that really supported us, which was the Baby Boomer generation,” Klier said. “New consumers don’t really want to drink what their parents and grandparents drank. So, they’re kind of steering away and looking for their own next niche beverage.”
While Klier believes wine will regain its popularity, the economic impact is already being felt by growers and winemakers in California.
“It’s a trickle-down effect. If vineyards can’t sell their fruit to wineries then they don’t need the employees to manage those vineyards, they don’t need the people to do that work. It goes across companies as well,” he said.
