California Ag Network

Category: Grape Industry

  • Taking Vineyard Sustainability to the Next Level with Climate Adaptation Certification


    Sonoma County Winegrowers have reached nearly 100% certified sustainability in their growing practices, but they are not settling just at that.  They are currently working with the California Land Stewardship Institute to develop a Climate Adaption Certification program and launched a pilot program this year in preparation.  Watch this brief interview with Laurel Marcus as she explains and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • CA Raisin Crop Update & Wildfire Impact

    With smoke-filled skies and ongoing wildfires in forested areas, one may wonder just how the California raisin industry may be impacted by all this.  As harvest continues through the pandemic year, what should we expect from the 2020 crop?  Watch this brief interview with Rick Stark from Sun-Maid growers to find out and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • Wine Industry Affected by Wildfires Seeks Extension of Disaster Payment Program

    With growers and winemakers facing unprecedented losses from the devastating West Coast wildfires, leaders of 10 wine industry groups are seeking help from Congress to obtain immediate disaster relief.

    Specifically, they are requesting an extension of the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+) to cover 2020 wildfire-related losses. Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, WHIP+ provides disaster payments to producers to offset losses from wildfires, hurricanes and other qualifying natural disasters. In 2019, California growers received WHIP+ payments for 2018 covered crop losses due to wildfires, as well as quality losses due to smoke exposure.

    “Farmers are resilient and they accept the many risks inherent to agriculture, but 2020 has produced more challenges than any could have ever anticipated. It’s absolutely essential that Congress extends disaster assistance to California winegrape growers,” said California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) President John Aguirre.

    A jointly signed letter was recently to Congressional leaders by the 10 organizations, including CAWG, California Farm Bureau Federation, Oregon Wine Board, Oregon Winegrowers Association, Oregon Farm Bureau, Washington Winegrowers, Washington Farm Bureau, WineAmerica, Wine Institute and Winegrape Growers of America.

    Additional information:

    >Letter to Congress from organizations

    >USDA WHIP+ webpage

  • What to Expect from the 2020 California Wine Crop

    Wildfires and smoke exposure aside, what is the 2020 wine grape crop looking like.  Jeff Bitter from Allied Grape Growers reports that the crop could be much smaller than expected with supply and demand returning to a more balanced state.  Watch his brief interview now and be sure to attend Jeff Bitter’s State of the wine grape industry address at American Vineyard’s virtual Central Coast Grape Grape Expo on Nov. 6th and the Central Valley Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo on Nov. 13.
     
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • California’s Wine Industry Unites to Support Fire-Impacted Communities

    Fires have once again ravaged California’s rural agricultural regions, leaving the most vulnerable in those communities without access to basic resources ranging from gas money to shelter. In response, California’s wine industry has rallied under the umbrella of #CAWineStrong to raise awareness and funds to support those in need.

    “Though many of our member wineries and growers are at risk of loss from these fires, our focus right now is on the broader community in which we live,” says Kim Stemler, who runs the Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association and is one of the industry leaders behind the #CAWineStrong effort.  “Many people are looking for ways to help, so we’re asking them to donate to regional community foundations, which can more quickly and directly benefit locals than national charities.”

    Information about the campaign is online at CAWineStrong.com, including links to each region’s community funds. Graphic indicators help website visitors to easily recognize which regions have been directly impacted by fire and to what degree.

    Questions about the campaign or how to get involved can be directed to cawinestrong@gmail.com.

    About #CAWineStrong

    California wine industry leaders have formed a support network to provide immediate assistance and long-term aid to victims of the fires impacting Northern California. The CAWineStrong Network includes:  Alexander Valley Winegrowers, Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association, Amador Vintners Association, Calaveras Valley Winegrape Alliance, Clarksburg Wine Growers & Vintners Association, Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley, El Dorado Winery Association, Lake County Winery Association, Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association, Lodi Winegrape Commission, Lodi District Grape Growers Association, Monterey County Vintners & Growers Association, Madera Wine Trail, Mendocino Wine Co, Mendocino Winegrowers Inc., Napa Valley Vintners, Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance, Petaluma Gap Winegrowers Alliance, Placer County Wine Trail, Russian River Vineyards, Santa Cruz Mountains Winegrowers Association, San Luis Obispo Wine Country, Sonoma County Winegrowers, Sonoma County Vintners, Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers, Temecula Valley Winegrowers, West Sonoma Coast Vintners, Wine Road Sonoma County, and Wineries of Santa Clara Valley.

  • 20% Raisin Crop Reduction in China Spurs Increased Demand

    China’s raisin production is forecast at 160,000 MT in MY 2020/21, down 20 percent from the previous year as the Covid-19 outbreak in the country’s major producing area has delayed raisin processing. As a result, China’s raisin export forecast is reduced sharply from the previous year to 20,000 MT on reduced exportable supplies. The raisin import forecast is expected to increase over the previous marketing year by nearly 20 percent to 37,000 MT given the shortage of local supplies and recovering demand.

    Production

    China’s raisin production is forecast at 160,000 metric tons (MT) in marketing year (MY) 2020/21 (August-July), down 20 percent from the previous year. The quarantine measures against Covid-19 have delayed raisin processing indefinitely in the Turpan area of Xinjiang, the single largest raisin producing region in China. The Xinjiang government is enforcing a quarantine lockdown across the whole province following an outbreak of Covid-19 in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang, in mid-July. As a result, many farming activities, including grape harvest, are suspended, according to local area sources in Turpan.

    The raisin processing season normally begins in mid-August and ends in late September or early October. Although the processing volume is relatively small at the beginning of the marketing year, if the quarantine measures persist, raisin production may be seriously affected. Turpan produces more than 80 percent of the country’s raisins (Turpan is shown in red below and Xinjiang is shown in orange). 

    Turpan produces mainly green raisins that are wind-dried in special drying houses by local farmers. Currently, green raisins, which are traditionally consumed as snacks, account for nearly 60 percent of the total market share. China is the world single largest producer of green raisins and the country’s raisin exports mostly fall in this category. Companies also process dark raisins in Turpan with sun- drying yards. The market share of dark raisins, which are mainly used as food ingredients, has reached around 40 percent in recent years.

    More than 90 percent of the grapes grown in Turpan belong to Thompson Seedless varieties that can be used for both raisin processing and fresh consumption. In MY2020/21, Turpan is expecting a good harvest of fresh grapes under favorable growing conditions. Normally, around 70 percent of the fresh grapes are processed into raisins and approximately five kilos of fresh grapes make one kilo of raisins.

    Price

    Raisin wholesale prices for MY2020/21 are not available as processing activities have not started. With the anticipated sharp decline in production, raisin prices are expected to increase from the previous marketing year. At the beginning of MY 2019/20, the wholesale prices for green raisins were quoted at RMB 24 (U.S. $3.50) per kilo in Turpan and dark raisins were sold at RMB 17 (U.S. $2.50) per kilo.

    Consumption

    The outbreak of Covid-19 in early 2020 has seriously impacted the consumption of raisins in China due to the closure of stores, disruption of logistics, and the limited use of gift baskets during the Chinese New Year. Although online snack food sales maintained moderate growth, consumption is focused more on meal substitutes such as instant food, bread, and cookies.

    With the effective control of Covid-19 and resumption of economic activities, raisin consumption is expected to recover gradually. Additionally, consumers will probably pay more attention to food safety and product brands. The consumption growth of raisins is dependent on development of new products and innovation of marketing strategies by major food producers.

    Raisins are used primarily in food processing as an ingredient or consumed directly as snacks. The rapid development of the snack food industry and the bakery sector has driven raisin consumption. The snack food industry had experienced an average growth of 6.7 percent during 2013-2019 and was predicted to maintain an annual growth rate of more than 6 percent in years to come, according to an industry report.

    Trade

    Imports

    The import forecast of raisins into China is 37,000 MT in MY 2020/21, an increase of nearly 20 percent from Post’s revised estimate of MY 2019/20 imports. Local importers and food processors are expected to increase their purchases from the world market given the sharp decline in Xinjiang raisin production. Uzbekistan remains China’s largest raisin supplier with a 65-percent market share in MY 2019/20. Chile passed the United States as the second largest raisin supplier. Raisin imports from the United States have not improved despite a tariff exclusion process that partially exempts the retaliatory tariffs imposed on U.S. origin products since the beginning of March 2020. The MY 2019/20 raisin import estimate is 31,000 MT.

    China’s raisin import shipments are concentrated in October-December (see chart below). During these months importers stock up in preparation for Chinese New Year celebrations and gifts. 

    Exports

    China’s raisin exports are forecast to decrease by 45 percent to 20,000 MT in MY 2020/21 from the revised number in the previous marketing year. The anticipated decline in local raisin production will reduce the exportable supplies. In addition, the world demand for raisins is likely to remain weak in the wake of the global Covid-19 outbreak. Leading export markets for Chinese raisins are the EU countries and Japan. The month-on-month data below highlights continued weakened exports. The MY 2019/20 export estimate was revised up in accordance with official customs data.

    Policy

    The State Council Tariff Commission (SCTC) announced that retaliatory tariffs imposed on U.S. agricultural products would be lowered as of February 14, 2020. As a result, the collected tariff on U.S. raisins became 55 percent, down from the previous 60 percent (see GAIN report CH2020-0016). In addition, SCTC launched a tariff exclusion process on March 2, 2020, focusing on individual importers who could apply for tariff exclusions on specific consignments of U.S. products. These exclusions exempted only the retaliatory Section 301-tariffs for the products and are valid for one year (refer to GAIN report CH2020-0017). If an exclusion application is successfully approved, import tariff for U.S. raisins would be cut to 25 percent.  

    Marketing

    U.S. raisins remain important for China’s snack food and baking sectors. However, consumer demand has been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in the HRI sector where many U.S. raisins are used. Slow consumption by the HRI section and overstocking of inventory led to delays for new orders. Supply chain disruptions during the pandemic also impacted sales.

    E-commerce channels

    The e-commerce channel continues to grow rapidly in China. In the first quarter of 2020, online retail food consumption grew 32.7 percent compared to the previous year, according to the China Statistic Bureau. This period coincided with some of the strictest Covid-19 measures in China. Consumers who switched to e-commerce sourcing during Covid-19 are likely to continue online purchases after experiencing consistent quality and increased ease from these platforms. This e-commerce trend is expected to continue across first, second and third-tier cities.

    About 30 percent of U.S. raisins are distributed through various e-commerce platforms. Some U.S. raisin brands have established their flagship stores on Taobao or JD.com to supply Chinese consumers.

    Baking industry continues to expand

    In 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Trade Offices across China worked with the Raisin Administrative Committee (RAC) to support in-person events showcasing U.S. raisins as ingredients in baked goods at retail chains. Raisins remain the most frequently used and popular dried fruit ingredient in the quickly expanding baking industry because of their familiar flavor and sweet taste. Consumer demand for baked goods and the sector’s expansion has helped push U.S. raisins into second- and third-tier cities. As home baking becomes a greater trend, the RAC is supporting online marketing initiatives that increase Chinese home bakers awareness of raisin uses in their recipes. — By the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service

  • Reality of the Wildfire Impact on the 2020 Winegrape Crop


    Many of our wine grape industry friends and families have been impacted by the recent wildfires, and our hearts and prayers go out to them. Although vineyards tend to act as fire breaks helping to mitigate the spread of these wildfires, growers and winemakers are concerned about what the smoke exposure impact will have on the 2020 vintage.  Please watch this brief interview with Jeff Bitter from Allied Grape Growers as he corrects some misconceptions about smoke exposure and clarifies the most likely impact the wildfires will have on the 2020 California crop — and how grape growers should proceed to finish up harvest.  Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
     
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • An Insider’s Guide to California’s Wine Harvest

    California’s annual winegrape harvest is underway, and wineries across the state are humming with activity as they transform the grapes into wine. Despite this year’s challenges, vintners are pleased with the quality of the 2020 vintage. As a tribute to this special time, Wine Institute presents eight lesser-known facts about California’s winegrape harvest.

    Want to experience California wine country‘s harvest? California Wines is offering free Zoom backgrounds of winegrape harvest scenes—from picking to crush. Just download the images and select a California harvest backdrop for your next Zoom session. For instructions, see Zoom’s support page.

    California harvest: largest in the U.S. California produces more than 80 percent of U.S. wine and isthe world’s fourth-largest producer. More than 90 percent of all California wine is produced in a Certified California Sustainable winery.

    Seeds hold the clues. Along with measuring the fruit’s sugar, acidity and pH levels, California winemakerscontinually taste the grapes—making sure to chew the seeds—in the days leading up to harvest. That’s because as grapes mature, their seeds turn brown and become less bitter. By chewing the seeds, winemakers can tell when the grapes have reached perfect ripeness.

    Sparkling wines go first.Harvesting early—typically in late July or early August—helps the state’s wineries maintain refreshing acidity in their sparkling wines. While just about any grape variety can be used to make sparkling wine, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are the most common choices.

    The grapes come in after dark. Wineries typically harvest between midnight and early morning because the cooler nighttime temperatures help concentrate and preserve the fresh fruit aromas and flavors and stabilize sugar levels. Night harvesting also saves energy in the winery because it eliminates the need to cool down the grapes after they have been picked, and it provides more comfortable working conditions for vineyard crews.

    Falcons help at harvest time. As part of their sustainable farming practices, many California vintners recruit trained raptors to scare away flocks of starlings and other birds that swoop in to eat ripe winegrapeshanging on the vines.

    Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon: state’s top grapes. Chardonnay is the number grape by tons harvested in California, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon.

    118+grape varieties. The state’s diverse climate and soils provide a hospitable home for dozens of winegrape varieties from Albariño to Zinfandel.

    One ton of grapes = 63 cases. On average, one ton of winegrapes produces about 63 cases of wine, or 756 (750 ml) bottles.

  • CAWG Addresses Grape Grower & Winemaker Smoke Exposure Challenges

    Last month’s widespread lightning storms resulted in multiple fast-moving and devastating wildfires that affected many regions of the state. More than 1 million acres have burned, resulting in lives lost, damaged structures and property, and smoke-filled days. These wildfires have produced unprecedented challenges for California’s winegrape growers and wineries.

    Growers and wineries have been challenged to determine with certainty how smoke from the state’s many fires has affected this year’s winegrape crop. With that in mind, California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) President John Aguirre issued the following statement:

    “Numerous growers have reported that wineries will not schedule delivery of grapes under contract until laboratory test results are available to indicate the grapes are unaffected by the presence of certain smoke compounds. The few commercial labs serving the industry are backlogged, with wait times of three or more weeks to test and report the results for new grape samples. In other instances, wineries are delaying harvest and grape deliveries pending the completion of small-batch or micro-fermentations of grapes and resulting analyses. These delays – in addition to wineries demanding test results – mean many growers face the prospect of significant crop losses and economic injury. This is unacceptable.

    “Unless specified in a contract, no buyer should believe they are entitled to reject a grower’s grapes based on concerns over smoke damage without corroborating evidence to indicate those grapes have, in fact, been damaged. It’s important to acknowledge a key fact: the presence of smoke in a vineyard, even if heavy at times, does not mean the grapes from that vineyard will invariably be smoke damaged. The challenges posed by recent smoke exposure events do not provide license to buyers to cast aside their contractual obligations to growers.

    “CAWG urges California’s wineries to work with their grower partners to address the shared risks resulting from smoke exposure events. We ask wineries to consider the following:

    • Communicate as soon as possible the standards and conditions, consistent with contract terms, that will be used to decide the acceptability of grapes.
    • Decision-making should be transparent to the grower and determinations regarding the quality status of grapes should be based upon or corroborated by test results from a third-party, accredited laboratory.
    • When data regarding grape quality is unavailable, wineries should discuss with growers, prior to harvest, risk sharing arrangements that are fair and equitable to both parties.
    • In the absence of express contractual authority to do so, wineries are not entitled to impose upon growers’ terms and conditions related to smoke damage risks after accepting and processing grapes delivered under contract.

    “CAWG recognizes the timing of recent wildfires presents exceptional challenges for growers and wineries. We are confident that growers and wineries will unite to overcome current and future challenges, protect the California brand and ensure our wines meet consumers’ expectations for quality and value.”

  • New AVA Approved For Santa Barbara Wine Country

    In Santa Barbara Wine Country, the Alisos Canyon area has long been revered for its high-quality fruit with its unique affinity towards Rhone-style varietals, and now the TTB has formally recognized Alisos Canyon as the region’s newest American Viticultural Area (AVA).

    Nestled between the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Maria Valley, Alisos Canyon is a tightly defined, stand-alone AVA that covers 5,774 acres distinguished by its unique geology, soil structure, and climate pattern.

    ·      The Alisos Canyon AVA exhibits a distinct viticultural influence of the San Antonio Creek Valley, which runs directly from the mouth of Alisos and Comasa Canyons to the Pacific Ocean 20 miles to the west.

    ·      The ingress of cooling marine winds and fog along the San Antonio Creek Valley helps define the climate of the Alisos Canyon AVA.  Due to some of the greatest diurnal shifts in the central coast, the mean temperature is one of the lowest of all AVAs, resulting in a degree-day average above Santa Rita Hills and significantly below Ballard Canyon.

    ·      Soils are based on weathered sandstone and shale, the Paso Robles and Sisquoc formations with a rare limestone streak along the corridor of the AVA.

    As a result of the distinct meso-climate and specific soil characteristics, Alisos Canyon produces amongst the finest Rhone-style wines on the West Coast with elegant flavor, expressive aromatics and significant longevity. Syrah, Grenache, Grenache Blanc and Petite Sirah are among the standouts in Alisos Canyon.

    During the AVA petition process, researchers highlighted a geological phenomenon called “The Goldilocks Rhone Zone,” where the climate is perfectly suited for Rhone grapes. In Northern Santa Barbara County, there are three primary “channels” that run from the Pacific Ocean to the interior coastal ranges: The Santa Ynez River channel to the south (feeds into Ballard Canyon), the Santa Maria River channel to the north (feeds into Foxen Canyon), and the San Antonio Creek channel in the middle (feeds into Alisos Canyon). Interestingly, there is a consistent distance of 24.5 miles from the Pacific down these channels where top Rhone varietals are grown. “Alisos Canyon falls perfectly within the Goldilocks Rhone Zone, a phenomenon that has proven itself true over three decades of winegrowing history in Santa Barbara,” said Wes Hagen, winemaker and author of the AVA petition.

    Alisos Canyon joins six other AVAs in Santa Barbara County. Historically, the region has added only one AVA about every five years. Grape growers have carefully studied the data of each phase within the seasons throughout the three decades and have defined the areas that produce this distinct and diverse wine style throughout the county. The unique, transverse nature of the valleys of Santa Barbara Wine Country provides a patchwork quilt of micro-climates and terrains, resulting in one of the most diverse grape growing regions in the world.

    About Santa Barbara Vintners

    Santa Barbara Vintners (Santa Barbara County Vintners Association) is a non-profit 501(c)6 organization founded in 1983 to support and promote Santa Barbara County as a world-class wine producing and wine grape growing region. The association includes winery members whose annual production is at least 75% Santa Barbara County (or sub-AVA) labeled, winery associates, vineyards, vineyard management companies, hospitality, and industry associate members. The association produces festivals and wine country weekends; educational seminars and tastings; provides information to consumers, trade, and media; and advocates for the Santa Barbara County wine and grape industry.