Wine Grape Harvest Wrapping Up

Wine Grape Harvest Wrapping Up

Wine Grape Harvest Wrapping Up. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report. It has been a challenging year for ag producers and by now you know that the late spring just seemed to continue to push the crop production further into the year by at least two weeks. Wine grapes are no exception. Ryan Pennington with the Washington Wine Commission says it appears the harvest will be a bit short. PENNINGTON: The projections that were out there before some of the interesting weather hit had us at a slight increase over last year. I'm hearing recently that because of some of the impacts of that weather the final number may actually be down perhaps 10% from last year. Even with the lower totals the quality seems very good. PENNINGTON: Quality is very high and good flavor development at modest sugar levels which will lead to lower alcohol wines with perhaps more complex flavors and generally very age-worthy wines. In fact Pennington says it is being compared to the 1999 crop as one of the better vintage years. He says that for the most part the harvest is just finishing up with just a little fruit left. How do the growers feel about this year? PENNINGTON: You know I wouldn't say that growers are pleased. Growers by their nature will always find something to complain about even in the best of years but it's been a challenge logistically executing this harvest, getting people into the field when the weather is less than favorable. That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.
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