Wine Snapshot

Wine Snapshot. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

Wine grape harvest is underway and according to Michael Stolp with Northwest Farm Credit Services things are looking good for the 2012 grape harvest across the northwest.

STOLP: Northwest wine grape growing conditions have been mostly favorable. If the weather remains warm, harvest could end by Halloween. In 2010 harvest lasted until Thanksgiving. After recovering from a winter damaged vintage in 2011, a record grape crop is expected in Washington. Preliminary estimates indicate a 2012 harvest close to 200,000 tons, well above the previous high of 160,000 tons in 2010. Production in Oregon could also be record breaking, where new plantings continue to mature and fruit is high quality following a warm, dry summer. With one to two weeks of harvest completed, Idaho growers report favorable growing conditions and a good quality crop.

And Stolp says things are not looking as bright in the California wine growing regions.

STOLP: Interestingly, a key concern in California is near historic low non-producing acres and low inventories, especially in the Central Valley. Wine grape plantings across the past four years have barely met the 4 percent required to replace outdated vineyards. Oversupply isn’t expected for three years. Overall, wine demand continues to increase at 2 to 3 percent while wine supply remains flat. Demand is expected to grow in the U.S. as per capita consumption increases.

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