As this issue of Wine Business Monthlygoes out to our readers, the sparkling wine harvest has already started with the first grapes coming in from the vineyards for crush. The 2009 harvest will soon be in full swing and winemakers will be deep in vats of grapes and wine.
We typically see considerable spot activity with winery buyers looking for uncommitted grapes ahead of crush, but this year has been unusually quiet so far. That’s because there’s a lot of fear and uncertainty out there, particularly for those selling wine at higher price points. Many winemakers are being cautious about the grapes they buy. They want to avoid having too much inventory so are hesitant to buy grapes. Wineries are wondering how much bottled wine they’ll sell next year and at what price. They’re wondering how consumers will readjust their buying habits following the recession. Many are assuming that if the market improves they can go to the bulk market in a few months to stock up on inventory later.
Crop size is impossible to predict, but expectations seem to be that the harvest will be fairly large in spite of the shatter reported in many vineyards. The anticipation has been prolonged by relatively cool weather.
Some wineries are telling growers they can’t use their grapes but will honor their contracts, sell the grapes and take a loss because of their long-term relationships. Opportunistic grape buyers are licking their chops, no doubt, and wondering when to make a move.
Now is clearly a great time to buy grapes if one can afford to. For winemakers that are just getting started with new labels and for anyone seeking great grapes, there are good grapes available that have been tied up for years. Winemaking is a long-term proposition, after all, and grapes purchased today won’t reach consumers for some time. With all the uncertainty as a backdrop, it will undoubtedly be an interesting harvest.
This issue of WBM includes a wide selection of interesting articles, just in time for harvest. Check out the industry roundtable on SO2 in the cellar, as well as the articles about corks, closures and capsules. Winemakers pay so much attention to myriad details in the winery but sometimes don’t spend as much time on bottling or closure selection. As ongoing research demonstrates, though, there’s quite a bit going on in the wine bottle after it leaves the cellar.
Cyril Penn, Editor
