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14 WINES&VINES April 2018 WINE INDUSTRY NEWS Shop online: gwkent.com GWKent1985 Winery Equipment, Ingredients & Supplies F A S T D E L I V E R Y F R O M O U R W A R E H O U S E I N M I C H I G A N info@gwkent.com S eattle, Wash.—Wash- ington state wineries crushed 227,000 tons of wine grapes in 2017, a 16% drop from the previous year, according to the 2017 Grape Crush Report released today by the Washington State Wine Commission. The final tally fell short of estimates from the Washington Winegrowers meet- ing in February. Cabernet Sauvignon was the most-harvested grape in the state, representing 27% of total wine grapes crushed with 62,200 tons, though the figure was down 13% from 2016. Chardonnay, mean- while, held a 17% share of grapes crushed with 39,300 tons, also down 13%. In a news release announcing the Grape Crush Report, Steve Warner, president of Washington State Wine, said: "2016 was an exceptionally large harvest in terms of grape cluster size and weight, and as such the vines had a natural response in 2017 to pro- duce more normal yields." The cold, wet winter of 2016- 17 resulted in delayed bud break and bloom. Harvest began in late August, though cool temperatures in late September "stalled" ripen- ing, according to some winemak- ers, resulting in low sugar levels in some varieties. The average price per ton for wine grapes was up 3.5% to reach $1,198 per ton. —Kate Lavin TOP STORY Washington Harvest Down 16% in 2017 YIELDS AND PRICES FROM 2017 WASHINGTON STATE WINE GRAPE HARVEST 2017 tons Change from 2016 2017 price Change from 2016 Chardonnay 39,300 -13% 940 0% White Riesling 33,000 -20% 804 -3% Sauvignon Blanc 8,000 -18% 940 3% Pinot Gris 9,700 11% 777 -2% Gewurztraminer 2,000 -23% 736 -1% Viognier 1,600 -16% 984 13% Semillon 675 -33% 1,072 2% Chenin Blanc 365 -19% 840 -4% Total White Varieties 96,500 -14% 874 -1% Cabernet Sauvignon 62,200 -13% 1,536 7% Merlot 32,700 -32% 1,254 7% Syrah 20,800 -23% 1,303 13% Cabernet Franc 3,500 -19% 1,563 -1% Malbec 2,900 7% 1,570 -1% Sangiovese 1,400 -18% 1,265 5% Grenache Noir 1,400 -18% 1,543 11% Petit Verdot 1,200 -14% 1,700 15% Pinot Noir 1,400 8% 985 -6% Mourvedre 1,100 0% 1,594 14% Total Red Varieties 130,500 -15% 1,420 8% ALL VARIETIES 227,000 -16% 1,198 4% Source: Washington State Wine Commission.