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. There has been an uptick in consumer confidence and optimism about the future. The dollar has lost strength relative to our competitors currencies. There was a smaller than expected 2003 crush. Bulk wine inventories are down. New packaging, increased convenience, a smart new industry wide advertizing campaign is improving movement and depletion of supplies.

This is all coming together to help set the stage for a stronger industry in the future.