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16 WINES&VINES July 2017 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS N apa, Calif.—Prices for Napa County Cabernet Sauvignon have long been exceptional when compared to prices paid for wine grapes from other regions of California and for other variet- ies, but they are getting so high it's of some concern to industry experts. "Any land that's in Napa Valley, in the wa- tershed of the Napa River, that can be planted to Cabernet and produce a good crop of Cab- ernet is being planted today, and they can make a call and sell the fruit for $5,000, $6,000, $7,000 (per ton)," said Tony Correia, president of the real estate appraisal and consultancy firm The Correia Co., while speaking at the 22nd annual Vineyard Economics Seminar held May 24 in Napa. Since 2010, the price graph for Napa Cab- ernet has been almost straight up, as consumer demand for premium wines has rebounded in a major way. The same can be said of high-end Pinot Noir grapes. As nearly every available plot in Napa County is getting planted to Cabernet, and growers and wineries are also pulling out other varieties rather than absorb the opportunity cost of not growing Cabernet. If too much Cab- ernet is planted in areas not well suited to the grape, Corriea said it could bruise the image of Napa County Cab. Nat DiBuduo, president of the Allied Grape Growers (AGG), said there has been "great" Sauvignon Blanc in Napa County ripped out for Cabernet Sauvignon and expressed a concern that some appellations might be in jeopardy of becoming mono-varietal. "I haven't seen prices TOP STORY Price of Napa Cabernet Raises Concern INCREASE IN GRAPE PRICES 4.5 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Year Index District 4 Cabernet Sauvignon District 3 Pinot Noir District 13 Average Source: The Correia Co.