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90 WINES&VINES November 2017 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS WINE EAST G eneva, N.Y.—What a differ- ence a year makes. Last year Hans Walter-Peterson, viticulture specialist at Cornell Co- operative Extension, reported that the Finger Lakes region of New York had received 40% of its normal rain- fall between April 1 and early Sep- tember. This year, after a winter with milder temperatures than in the previous several years, grape- vines had better bud survival and less trunk damage. And in April, the weather turned wet. Gillian Trimber, viticulture com- munity educator at the Cornell Co- operative Extension in the Finger Lakes, noted in the Sept. 8 edition of Véraison to Harvest (published by the Cornell University Cooperative Extension) that rainfall had been above the monthly average in Ge- neva, N.Y., every month since April. Precipitation in July was more than 4 inches above the average, and by mid-August the rainfall total for the season reached the mean rainfall amount normally seen in an entire year. Dr. Tim Martinson, senior exten- sion associate at Cornell University's Department of Horticulture, told Wines & Vines that because of cooler weather in August, "we may be close to a week behind" and that he an- ticipates a "normal to late harvest, that possibly may go on and on." Trimber reported that tem- peratures were average for the spring and summer, and that growing degree-days tracked near to the long-term mean. In 2016, the drought resulted in small grape berries with soluble solids that were 0.5° to 1° Brix above average and acids that were 1 to 3 grams per liter lower. This season, the frequent rains have led to a later start for véraison, larger berries and to larger crops. Some growers have told Martinson that this year's crop is the best they have had in the past three years. Berry composition is different this year, which according to Mar- tinson reflects the weather condi- tions. As of early September, total soluble solids were about 1°-2° Brix lower than last year's Sept. 6 sample. Titratable acidity is higher by 2 to 9 grams per liter in com- parison with a year ago. Both scientists were concerned that if the rains continued, grow- ers would be fighting botrytis and various fruit rots. "While it's too early to predict how the rest of September and October will come out, to me it looks like harvest season will be 'cool and extended' rather than 'hot and compressed,'" Martinson said. Trimber added: "A long, dry fall would be great, but for many grow- ers this year, the strategy of getting the fruit off the vine sooner rather than later may be the way to go, as dry weather around here is never guaranteed." Finger Lakes grape prices for 2017 Walter-Peterson supplied the list of prices for grapes in the Finger Lakes region for the 2017 harvest. New York wineries that purchase more than 5 tons of any grape va- riety are required to publish the prices they will pay for grapes. Some of the prices reported are those wineries pay for their own grapes, while others are con- tracted prices between growers and wineries. The entire list of 60 grape varieties can be found at flgp.cce.cornell.edu. While prices rose for a majority of grapes on the Finger Lakes price list in 2016, this year prices did not move as much either up or down. For the 60 varieties in- cluded on the list, prices went up on 24 varieties compared to last year's 37; 18 varieties dropped in price versus 8 in 2016; and 18 instead of 15 were essentially flat. With the weather being more moderate both in cold winter tem- peratures and in rainfall across the East, and regions outside of New York producing more locally grown fruit, the demand for local grapes may have slightly decreased. Prices for vinifera grapes con- tinued to be strong: Nine varieties increased in price, four went down, and three were flat. Last year's growth leader, Cabernet Franc, continued its upward rise in price. The variety increased by 12.4% in 2016 (from $1,400 to $1,573) and rose by almost 3% this year to $1,609. Lemberger increased from last year's $1,433 (an average of prices from six wineries) to $1,495 (an average of prices from 10 win- eries), or a rise of 4.3%. Other varieties that had signifi- cant increases last year, including Riesling, the Finger Lakes' signa- ture variety, did not do as well in 2017. Riesling, which had in- creased by 4.8% last year to $1,627, dropped to $1,577. Merlot also dropped by $50: The variety rose in 2016 by 8% to $1,872, only to go down to $1,822 in 2017. An- other of last year's price leaders, Chardonnay, rose less than 1% this year after going up 6.4% last year. With the exception of New York cold-climate variety Valvin Muscat, hybrid grapes did not change in price as much this year. Valvin Muscat continued its streak of ris- ing prices: After going up 5% in 2014 and 11% in 2015, it rose less than 1% last year to $856. This year the grape's average price was $950, an increase of 11%. Baco Noir had the second-largest in- crease, rising from $597 to $608, a change of less than 2%. Last year's increase leader, Chancellor, which rose from $650 in 2015 to $733 last year (an increase of 13%), dropped back to $650. The variety with 12 of the 13 wineries reporting a price, Cayuga White, rose only from $572 to $577. Two other New York hybrids changed prices slightly. Corot Noir dropped from $583 to $575, and Noiret increased from $695 to $708. The Minnesota cold-climate grape Marquette stayed at $800. Last year, eight of the nine native American varieties increased in price, but that trend did not con- tinue into 2017. Only four natives increased in price: four dropped, and one (Isabella) was flat. Con- cord, which had increased in aver- age price by 11.2% to $302 last year, dropped by 5.6% to $285, while Niagara, which had increased by only 1.7% in 2016, decreased this year by 3.1% to $308. After rising in price in 2016 by 0.9%, this year Catawba had the largest in- crease in price, from $328 to $345. —Linda Jones McKee Wine East Covering Eastern North America Cool Summer Weather Slows Finger Lakes Grape Harvest Some "premium" prices may not be listed. Some processors may have sliding price scales, based on Brix. 2017 FINGER LAKES GRAPE PRICE SURVEY 2016 Average Price Per Ton 2017 Average Price Per Ton Percentage Change Baco Noir $597 $608 2% Cabernet Franc $1,573 $1,609 2% Cabernet Sauvignon $1,700 $1,743 3% Catawba $328 $345 5% Cayuga $572 $577 1% Chardonnay $1,377 $1,386 1% Concord $302 $285 6% Gewürztraminer $1,688 $1,689 0% Lemberger $1,433 $1,495 4% Maréchal Foch $646 $655 1% Merlot $1,872 $1,822 3% Niagara $318 $308 3% Pinot Gris $1,713 $1,712 0% Pinot Noir $1,817 $1,870 3% Riesling $1,627 $1,577 3% Rougeon $554 $553 0% Seyval $617 $617 0% Vignoles $809 $803 1%