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FEBRUARY NEWS Grape and Bulk Wine Prices Stable Turrentine makes pronouncement in spite of back-to-back large harvests S anta Rosa, Calif.—Sonoma eties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot County growers received an Noir, Chardonnay, Zinfandel and update on grape and wine Merlot have stayed largely stable, prices at the Dollars and with just a slight drop off from the Sense program held Jan. 15. large crops of 2012 and 2013. Hosted by the Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon prices remain Winegrowers, the session featured a the strongest wine grape variety, presentation from Turrentine Brokershrugging off the low point followage vice president Brian Clements and ing the recession. "Cab is like a broker Matt Cuneo. rocket ship," Clements said. "It They said the industry has been really is bulletproof." Matt Cuneo (left) and Brian Clements of Turrentine Brokerthrough some odd years that started According to Turrentine's average age said bulk wine rebounded after a near critical shortage. with the recession, which was folspot prices (which extend beyond lowed by an almost critical shortage Sonoma County), Cabernet fell to of California bulk wine. Two large harvests across most of the state $1,232 per ton in 2010, but it rose to $2,376 by 2012 and hit $2,424 in 2012 and 2013—as well as significant new acreage in the Central in 2013. Bulk wine prices rose from $10.57 per gallon in 2010 to Valley—appear to have rectified the shortage. $20.35 in 2012 and $19.60 in 2013. Clements said he now considers 4 million tons the new "floor" Pinot Noir prices reflect the popularity of the grape: Prices for for California's harvest; 2013 is expected to grapes rose from $1,861 per ton in 2010 to $2,466 per ton in 2013. winesandvines.com yield 4 million tons if not more. "These numBulk wine prices hit $27.72 per gallon in 2012, but due to the large Learn more: Search keywords bers are going to keep getting bigger every harvests prices are now at $18.73 per gallon. Clements said Sonoma "Prices stable." year," he told the audience. County produced more than 50,000 tons of Pinot Noir in 2012, In terms of bulk wine, the current level of the California bulk and the 2013 yield is expected to be about the same. market stands at around 15 million gallons. Prices for the key vari—Andrew Adams Win es & Vin es F EB Rua ry 20 14 17