2015 Grape Production Report
2015 Grape Production Report. I'm Greg Martin with today's Fruit Grower Report.
The National Ag Statistics Service has released their 2015 Washington Wine Grape survey. Steve Warner, President of the Washington Wine Commission says even though there is a decrease in overall production the report is still good news.
WARNER: Considering the quality of the vintage has been, so far, amazing and you know, 2% down when you look at the trends over the last five years is really right in line with the trends. Overall we've been growing 11 to 12% per year over the last five years so I think it's still healthy growth.
The report breaks down the different varietals and Warner talks about any changes.
WARNER: We've been seeing a lot of strong growth out of some of the red varietals in particular. Cabernet has been growing roughly 20% per year over the last five years. But even the whites, chardonnay's up 10% per year over the last five years and riesling about 9% so we're seeing healthy growth across all the varietals and we're pretty well evenly split. We're now 49% white, 51% red.
The big factor this year in the decline was the drought which affected all of agriculture.
WARNER: If you just talk tonnage over the last five years, we've grown almost 60%. And then if you talk quality, we've had six straight years of having the highest percentage of 90+ rated wines compared to France, Italy, Spain, California and Oregon and all indications are that the '13-'14 and even '15 vintages are going to be amazing quality as well.
That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.
