Wine Grape Production Down

Wine Grape Production Down. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

The 2011 Washington wine crop was down from the year before. Washington’s 2011 wine grape production totaled 142,000 tons, down 11 percent from 2010. Production of red varieties was down 20 percent from last year compared to a 2 percent decrease in the production of white varieties. Lacy Gray has more.

GRAY: Due to the reduced output of red varieties in 2011, production of white varieties accounted for a larger percentage of the total. Production of white varieties was 55 percent of the total compared to 50 percent during 2010. White Riesling was the top
producing variety grown in the State at 31,700 tons or 22 percent of the total. Chardonnay ranked second, at 28,500 tons or 20 percent of the total. In third place was Cabernet Sauvignon with 23,100 tons or 16 percent of the total. Merlot ranked fourth
with 21,900 tons or 15 percent of the total.

Of the top four varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon showed the largest decrease of 28 percent from 2010. Growers received an average of $987 per ton for all varieties in 2011, down $53 from last year. It should be noted that the 2011 quantity and average price for all wine grapes is preliminary and is subject to revision in July 2012

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.