How much longer is the wine industry going to be in the tanks? California wine grape growers anticipate delivering a high quality crop to the wineries this year; however, many are concerned whether there will be a home for their grapes, due to the global decline in demand for wine and other alcoholic beverages. At the annual meeting of Allied Grape Growers, President Jeff Bitter shared that the industry will likely see some grapes go unharvested again this year. Watch this brief interview, as Jeff meets with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to discuss the expectations for this year’s crop and where the industry needs to be supply-wise in order to return to balance with the decline in demand. Read more details in the August issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
Tag: California Wine Industry News
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Could Farmers Get a Tax Credit for Paying Employees Overtime?
Could farmers in California get a tax credit for paying their employees to work overtime? Other states have already implemented this to alleviate the pressures of inflating wage costs burdening ag employers. Watch this brief interview as Michael Miiller from the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) joins Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to share how CAWG is working with the California Farm Bureau and Senator Shannon Grove through SB628 to support California ag employers and make this happen.
Please thank this video’s sponsor SIPCAM AGRO USA for their industry support.
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What We can Learn from Recent Vineyard Planting Trends, or Lack Thereof
Wine market issues have led to a major slowdown in grapevine planting activity in California over the last few years to the point that some of the top suppliers of planting material have recently determined to exit the market. At the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, Allied Grape Growers President Jeff Bitter shared the results of their annual grapevine nursery survey report, highlighting which varieties are still being planted and in what areas of the state. Watch this brief interview as Jeff shares with American Vineyard Editor Matthew Malcolm what growers can learn from these planting trends.
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Short California Winegrape Crop Doesn’t Fix Wine Market Troubles
While harvest is generally a highly anticipated time of the year for California wine grape growers, it was a real let down for growers that could not find a home for their crop. The global wine market remains depressed while supply and demand continues to be out of balance, despite the shorter crop that was delivered to the wineries this year. This is what Allied Grape Growers President Jeff Bitter shared at Malcolm Media’s Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo in his annual State of the Wine Industry address. Watch this brief interview as Jeff shares with American Vineyard Editor Matthew Malcolm what growers can expect heading into 2025. Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
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Central Valley Wine Industry Losing Share in Brandy Market, Compounding Other Challenges
To compound the troubles Central Valley wine grape growers are already facing with a depressed global wine market amidst increased production costs, Allied Grape Growers President Jeff Bitter shared some new trends in the brandy market that are beginning to negatively impact growers invested in that beverage category. Watch his brief interview with Matthew Malcolm from California Ag Network, and read more in American Vineyard Magazine.
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CAWG Pushes Legislation to Streamline Ag Employee Housing
California ranks last in both housing affordability and availability, compared to the rest of the United States. This is having a major impact on California farm workers who are having to commute long distances to get to work or are otherwise struggling to get by. Watch this brief interview with Michael Miiller from the California Association of Winegrape Growers as they push for legislative support to streamline the permitting process for on-farm ag employee housing. Read more about it in the May issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
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Wine Grape Planting Trends & the Removal Need for Market Correction
Growers are not overplanting wine grape acreage in California, but they have fallen fall behind in removing old, underperforming vineyards and less desirable varieties. This is what Allied Grape Growers President Jeff Bitter shared at the 2024 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium upon release of their annual grapevine nursery survey report. Watch this brief interview as Jeff shares with American Vineyard Editor Matthew Malcolm what the current planting trends look like and just how many vineyards need to be removed to bring the industry back into balance for a more sustainable future.
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Waning Demand Concerning Future of the Wine Industry
At Malcolm Media’s recent Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo, Allied Grape Growers’ Jeff Bitter delivered a State of the Wine & Grape Concentrate Industry report, that left attendees concerned about the near future of the wine industry. Predicting an imminent market correction that will impact most in the industry, watch his interview and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
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Wine Shipment Slump Indicates Market Correction Ahead
Although prices have been up, largely due to inflation, California wine shipments are down significantly to a level which has not been seen in decades. But, why the slump in shipments and what will this mean for the California wine market in the near future? Watch this brief interview with Allied Grape Growers President Jeff Bitter to find out, and read more in American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Ranch Systems for their industry support.