Change is coming.....

The late winter and early spring have turned the winegrape outlook around. While I have speculated change was coming, I can now report it is here and the pace of change is accelerating.

It appears wine consumption is improving. Demand for US wines is increasing. Boomers are consuming and the new Millenium crowd is coming into the market and imposing their tastes and preferences on producers and marketers. Change is coming...

The bulk wine markets are heating up. Supplies of good quality wine are diminishing. Prices are firming and buyers are already in the fields hoping to find growers who haven't heard... Change is coming.

New brands, new packaging, new closures, better quality and great values tell me producers are responding to the market and...Change is coming.

Look for continuation of these events and momentum to build. The economy is showing good signs of life. The dollar is still weaker than our competitors currencies, job growth is improving and interest rates are still at historically low levels. The impact from these forces on our industry is still unclear, but if history is an indicator of the future...Change is coming.

In all likelihood, we will get caught napping and the cycle will commence anew and off we go to the races once again.