WEATHER
Throughout California in most growing areas, we have been experiencing three weeks of over 100 degrees F temperatures with just a couple of days of respite. For this early in the season it is a rarity. In the past we had seen these high temperature for a few days in August and in September. There was that horrible heat pattern in September 2022 when a lot of grapes dried up on the vine. Tomorrow the weather will eventually cool down to the 90’s for about a week. After that looks like another heat wave may occur. We took advantage of those couple of days of respite to look at our growers’ vineyards. There was not any damage and in general everything looked good. The most significant result from this heat wave is the specter of wildfires.
TIMING
Last year at this time we were saying that the crop will be two to three weeks later than last year. We proved to be right with a large percentage of grapes never reaching their contracted sugar and never picked. At this time, we are saying that the crop will be two to three weeks earlier than last year. Are we saying that we are approaching a normal season, whatever that is? The answer is yes. We may even be earlier. We have not taken any sugars yet. Probably around the first week in August we will take our first sugars. Even with all this heat verasian (or color change) is progressing quite normally.
MARKETING
Over the last year we have read so many explanations why there a drop in general domestic wine sales. It is above our sophistication to truly come up with any absolute answer. It is probably a combination of many factors including imports, seltzer drinks, marijuana to health issues due idiotic Government reports that any alcohol is bad for you. (In some San Francisco Hospitals they used to give some patients a glass of wine daily in the 1950’s and 60’s). What we do know is that for almost everybody sales started to fall off from pandemia highs in the second half of 2022. That drop off has continued through 2023. The drop in sales is more dramatic from on the shelf sales than winery on-site sales. This is encouraging for our business scenario. Until the large inventories of wine disappear worldwide and California acreage is significantly reduced, the glut will continue.
CROP SIZE
This heat caused berry size and bunch size to be significantly smaller than last year. The general talk is that the 2024 crush has been reduced by 15% because of this heat. Crops look normal for Zinfandel and newer plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon. Older Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyards show some shatter and smaller bunches. White grapes are generally light with again bunches and berries being small from their original set and bloom.
