tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57993892011-12-14T18:33:10.387-08:00Insights, opinions, rantings and ravings on the wine industry in California.Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.comBlogger221100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1159555658906303242006-09-29T11:41:00.000-07:002006-09-29T13:00:04.076-07:00

The industry is wringing its hands again, albeit, mostly the growers. Huge surpluses. Falling prices, unharvested winegrapes. Oh my!!! References to the days of 1985, 1992 and 2001 are bandied about to add resolution and clarity to our minds eye.It seems to this observer, once again our attention is being drawn to a snapshot in time. Yes, we have an immediate problem. Yes, there is a

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1138392397021513332006-01-27T12:00:00.000-08:002006-01-27T12:09:00.006-08:00

Recently, the Lodi-Woodbridge winegrowers implemented a certification program for its members. The idea being that certification of its Members who employ the organizations long proscribed cultural practices would provide added value to its members and their customers. While the commission has done much to improve the district's quality, image and presence in the marketplace, this latest effort

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1126724447197066662005-09-14T11:30:00.000-07:002005-09-14T12:07:38.996-07:00

California wine industry is in a sea change. Industry consolidation, aging core consumers, improving world economies and complacency are fomenting major changes to the staid, high-brow, industry we have known and loved.The industry is consolidating into several global players reminiscent of the current grocery industry. These mega-players have the power to command shelf space at the retail

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1110471863015699542005-03-10T08:10:00.000-08:002005-03-10T08:24:23.016-08:00

Reading the news reports, we are getting sprains from slapping ourselves on the back for the recovery in the wine industry. Touting our improved quality and consumer preference for California wines as proof positive the wineries are back on track and the future looks bright.These are scary times, for it occurs to this observer, little has been learned of the globalization of wine and that sets

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1087350417710315002004-06-15T18:37:00.000-07:002004-06-15T18:48:59.633-07:00

Lodi already is big in producing premium varietals for the value and premium segments of the market. Building new brands around winegrapes sourced in the District is a critical brick in the foundation of our future. After years of quality improvements, grower education, the elimination of some growers reluctant to change, and even the death of some die-hards, Lodi-Woodbridge is starting to

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1087000600911412622004-06-11T17:26:00.000-07:002004-06-11T17:45:49.473-07:00

No, not the deadly Asian pathogen, but the dreaded corporate Strategic Asset Re-allocation Syndrome. Infection is inevitable beginning with the largest, publicly held wine companies and ultimately affecting nearly all of us. The initial symptons are the business analysts and accountants, responding to shareholder concerns or pressure begin talking in acronyms like ROI, ROA, IRR. The dreaded

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1085543681511606912004-05-25T20:46:00.000-07:002004-05-31T10:21:43.956-07:00

The strong winds of May have reshaped the wine landscape. Crops are maturing more rapidly than normal. The industry is dealing with change. New brands are taking hold. New ventures are being formed and there is an excitement coupled with the fear and trepidation of the last few years. Values are strengthening, both for the grapes and wine and the underlying real estate as well. Sales are

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1081556182381182262004-04-09T17:05:00.000-07:002004-04-09T17:19:08.873-07:00

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

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1072296338161057562003-12-24T12:04:00.000-08:002003-12-24T12:06:37.793-08:00

A toast with a nice glass of California chardonnay to you and yours and best wishes for the holiday season and the new year

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1071604544931264692003-12-16T11:47:00.000-08:002003-12-16T11:56:36.763-08:00

For an industry whose mission is filling glasses, we tend to look at our world with a "glass half-empty" perspective. It is never as good as it can be, there are always hurdles lurking around the next corner to jump and we constantly create hurdles for ourselves. The facts tend to indicate we have a vibrant industry. We are increasingly responsive to our customers. We are world-leaders in

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1071018678240702912003-12-09T16:59:00.000-08:002003-12-09T17:12:03.153-08:00

The buying power of the American dollar in foreign markets reached new lows against some of our biggest wine exporters such as Italy, France, Australia among others. Conversely, the low value of the dollar means their goods are more expensive for US consumers to purchase or import. That's great news for the wine industry. After several years of providing an umbrella under which the US dollar

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1070580183790959912003-12-04T15:10:00.000-08:002003-12-04T15:29:39.280-08:00

Negociant (Nee-Go-Sea-Aunt) In times of plenty, the wine industry's equivalent of the high-tech entrepeneur is the negociant. This relatively little known player outside the industry, becomes a big player when there are bountiful supplies of bulk wine. Operating from a stable of little known or newly developed labels, many function as "virtual wineries". Buying bulk wines for their value,

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1069811508916409432003-11-25T17:43:00.000-08:002003-11-25T17:53:46.590-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving Be sure to raise a glass of California wine during the next few days. A couple of things to be thankful for: 1. Poor weather which reduced the potential grape crop and probably reduced the the duration of the current economic trough in this industry. 2. A weaker US dollar, allowing our domestic producers to gain some ground on our international competitors. 3.

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1069205641180091332003-11-18T16:48:00.000-08:002003-11-18T17:34:25.013-08:00

Wine whining! The wine industry is entering the time of year when a substantial part of the full years sales occur. Most wineries will make or break their year in the coming 6-8 weeks as holiday cheer and revelry is spread accross the land. There are some good signs for the industry. Wine pricing has been coming down as the wineries try to maintain market share through this weak period.

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1068583906885180052003-11-11T12:37:00.000-08:002003-11-11T12:51:43.876-08:00

Record consumption consumer demand growth It all sounds so wonderful. Consumption growth has to be good? Analysis of the aggregate data suggests most of the growth is derived from imports making further in-roads into our "core" consumer. Couple increasing imports with the growth in super value brands, like two-buck chuck and we appear to this observer to be consuming ourselves. Back when the

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1067992262631872432003-11-04T16:23:00.000-08:002003-11-04T16:33:56.823-08:00

Wine grape harvest is fading in the fields of Northern California and with it the hopes and asperations of the vintage of 2003 will be committed to tanks, barrels and bottles for future evaluation. It appears from our early assessments, the harvest is likely to be 12-15% short of last years production. For some varieties a blessing, for the industry a respite and for some growers, another

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1066759637560714502003-10-21T10:55:00.000-07:002003-10-21T11:07:17.570-07:00

Lodi/Woodbridge Increasing numbers of creative winemakers are contributing to the growing quality of the wines being produced from this region. Together with growers who have recognized and implemented practices which are contributing to greater quality in the grapes themselves, the winemakers are now armed with a competive raw product to express their craft and personal interpretation. with

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1065040389109695312003-10-01T13:31:00.000-07:002003-10-01T13:35:32.413-07:00

Wine Grape concentrate: Critical element to improving the health of the wine grape industry and the raisin industry. After several years of being unable to compete, grape prices have fallen and supplies have increased allowing the industry to attempt to establish a new foothold. A healthy secondary market like this can really help the struggling wine grape producers.

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1064960312389620462003-09-30T15:14:00.000-07:002003-09-30T15:18:32.366-07:00

Harvest Progress: Harvest continues in the wine producing regions of california. Quality of the short crop is questionable resulting from the untimely and intense heat a week ago. All varieties became ready to harvest at the same time. Varieties and fields which were on the fence were over-ripe very quickly. Wineries are playing catch up as they try to get all the tonnes needed through the

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1063755866848105092003-09-16T16:39:00.000-07:002003-09-16T16:44:26.560-07:00

A short crop--growing shorter.... Looking around the states wine grape producing regions, the crop is light. As the harvest progresses, this light crop is turning out increasingly short of most forecasts and revisions. The implications are a boomerang effect in the market place. Some varieties are persisently long and will need a couple of more years to re-balance, however with consumption

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1063305178929042502003-09-11T11:32:00.000-07:002003-09-11T11:32:58.943-07:00

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799389.post-1063305067707844542003-09-11T11:18:00.000-07:002003-09-11T11:33:32.900-07:00

California Glut? With the harvest underway in the valleys of California and economic trepidation on the consumers mind, will the so-called wine glut continue? Has mother nature issuing untimely rains and heat diminished the crop? Are the bulk wine inventories an illusion at this time to keep prices down? Are consumers being provided value in the marketplace from the wineries?

Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02428709101890764187noreply@blogger.com0