Bitner Chat

An Interesting conversation with Bitner Vineyards owner Ron Bitner as we wandered through is winery In Caldwell, Idaho. Ive grown enough grapes in the past for 3-thousand cases of wine. We always kept enough for ourselves. Our business plan is I've kept a lot more red grapes in the barrel, so we’re releasing our 2012 vintage. So I still have my 13, 14 a light 15 and 16, so 17 and Im out. We’re okay we sell most of our wine on our deck, we’ll stay in our 1500 to 2000 case range and sell to a few restaurants in the valley. We focus on small and family and high quality wines. That works for us. Those that are locked into increasing production this is a tough year for them because they have to pay 3 times as much for the grapes this year.

 

Most of the red grapes are in the barrel, even for the other guys. But the ’17 vintage is really going to be light, for them they’ll have to go up and get another source of grapes. Fortunately I don't have to.

 

The Bitner’s run a bed and breakfast on their property which makes for a lovely stay.