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MARCH NEWS French Leading Varieties Crushed by Percent of Total Crush Pinot Gris* 4.5% Merlot 7.4% Colombard 8.1% Thompson Seedless 8.4% Other Zinfandel 8.9% Cabernet Sauvignon 9.9% Chardonnay* 14.4% California's Winegrape Crop Levels Down Napa leads as prices hit record highs S acramento, Calif.—Fewer winegrapes went into the Cali- fornia crush in 2011, and prices for the most desirable vari- eties increased, as revealed in the Preliminary Crush Report released Feb. 10 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. California's 2011 crush totaled almost 3.87 million tons, a dip of 3% from 2010, and winegrape varieties dropped 7% to just under 3.34 million tons. Red wine varieties accounted for the largest share of all grapes crushed, at 1.92 million tons, down 7%. The 2011 white wine variety crush totaled 1.43 million tons, also a 7% decrease. Glenn Proctor at San Rafael's Ciatti Co., international grape and wine brokers, told Wines & Vines that although the 2011 harvest was slightly larger than expected, "we still don't have enough grapes." According to the report, the 2011 average price for all varieties reached a record high of $588.96, up 8% from 2010 and 3% above 2009's the previous record. Average prices per ton increased across the board: red winegrapes, $702.70, up 12%; white winegrapes, $541.11, up 8%; raisin grapes, $265.15, up 23%; table grapes, $219.20, up 26%. Napa grapes remained the priciest, earning the highest average price of $3,407.56 per ton, up 5%. Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon maintained their primacy, accounting for 14.4% and 9.9% by volume of the 2011 crush. Their average prices also grew: Chardonnay brought $752.30 per ton, up 5%, and Cabernet Sauvignon, $1,147.10, up 11%. Zinfandel prices reached $559 per ton, an impressive 26% jump in one year; Merlot racked up a 13% increase to $691.05 per ton average. With the biggest grape price hikes coming from the Central Val- ley, followed by the Central Coast, Proctor said, "The demand is in value-end pricing. You are going to see more of a margin squeeze from the wineries; but no one is going to go out and plant grapes if they can't get paid for them." The preliminary report includes all grape tonnage crushed dur- ing in the 2011 season, as well as purchased tonnage and pricing information with final prices prior to Jan. 10, 2012. The Final Grape Crush Report will be available March 9. —Jane Firstenfeld Wines & Vines MARCH 2012 15 3.5x9.875.indd 1 10/4/11 1:36 PM varieties 27.4% Rubired* 6.6% Pinot Noir 4.4% { THE ART LIVES ON… The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. —Aristotle Our barrels are works of art, crafted with expertise and perfection to honor wine. Partner with Tonnellerie Quintessence to create your masterpiece. } 8 route de Canteloup—33750 Beychac & Caillau www.tonnelleriequintessence.fr USDA, NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS SERVICE