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34 W i n e s & V i n e s n o V e m b e r 2 0 1 4 Several providers of stainless steel tanks and other fermentation vessels remarked that back-to-back large harvests had prompted an increase in orders, with new winery projects and expansion among existing wineries fueling their businesses. A supplier of winery gaskets claimed their sales had doubled during the past year; mean- while, a provider of solar energy solutions said wineries' return to health prompted renewed interest in capital improvements such as large-scale solar installations. Linde, who sells supplies to vineyards in Oregon and Washington, reports that his clients are thriving as the price of grapes has gone up. The increased number of vines going in the ground has caused a bit of a shortage, however. "Plants are hard to come by," Linde reported. "You have to really plan ahead." What's to come In spite of reports of booming growth, one corner of the wine industry is eyeing the next year with skepticism: the Midwest and eastern vineyards and wineries affected by the "polar vortex" weather phenomenon of early 2014. Frigid temperatures in January and February killed vines from Minnesota to New York's Finger Lakes, where the fed- eral government declared 19 counties a disaster area and some vinifera vineyards experienced 100% bud mortality. Viticulture researchers told Wines & Vines that mild weather in December 2013 left vines ill-prepared for temperatures that dropped as low as -24ºF and in some cases persisted for hours. The year ahead looks significantly brighter for West Coast wineries, prompt- ing nearly 85% of respondents to say they expect wine industry growth during the coming year. As consumer demand contin- ues to increase—the United States was named the No. 1 wine-consuming country in the world in 2010—wineries will be able to expect longer growth trends that affect grapegrowers and supporting vendors. Lynch, the founder of San Francisco- based Big Bang Wine, said independent retailers and restaurants with sommeliers are showing increased interest in lesser known varieties such as Albariño, Tempra- nillo and Tannat. "We're also seeing a lot of enthusiasm for small-production wines, limited-edition wines like proprietary blends or block bottlings," he said. Maverick Enterprises' Shelby White continued, "Overall it's a great time for the wine industry. The economy is com- ing back, and the wine industry is just booming." West Coast: 81 M Street Fresno, CA 93721 Tel: 559.485.2692 Midwest: 1401 Ware Street Waupaca, WI 54981 Tel: 715.258.5525 The Wine Lab TM : 640-D Airpark Road Napa, CA 94558 Tel: 707.224.7903 East Coast: 1165 Globe Avenue Mountainside, NJ 07092 Tel: 908.301.1811 The Revolutionaries Behind Wineʼs Visionaries Malolactic Bacteria, Non-Saccharomyces Yeasts Fermentation Nutrients Membrane Cartridge Filters, Laboratory Consumables Divergan F – PVPP OenoFoss - FTIR Analytical Instrumentation Filter Sheets, Lenticular Cartridges, Cellulose Pre-Coat Fibers Cross Flow Filters, RO Systems Liquid and Granular Enological Enzymes Oak-Mor ® /Oak Avantage ® Chips and Granular Oak www.gusmerenterprises.com sales@gusmerenterprises.com ® For 90 years, Gusmer has oered a full range of innovative enological tools that allow for your creative expression through unique and interesting wines. Equipment, analytical instrumentation and processing aids, brought to you by leading suppliers in the wine industry – and all backed by strong technical support. The options for expression have never been greater and the tools never better, so go ahead, be unique, and express yourself. For more information, contact Gusmer today. YEARS CO 2 Analytical Instrumentation Grape Tannins Wine Hose & Spray Nozzles At Gusmer, we know the wine you create is just as unique as you are. s u p p l i e r s u r v e y