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: Jeff Bitter
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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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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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Western Wine Grape Planting Trends & Caution from Allied Grape Growers
When compared with natural vineyard attrition taking place, grapevines are being planted at a higher rate according to Allied Grape Grower’s recent grapevine nursery survey report discussed at The Unified Wine & Grape Symposium. Watch this video with Jeff Bitter to learn more about what varieties are being planted and where.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Ranch Systems for their industry support.
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State of the Central Valley Wine Industry and Harvest Report
Wine grape growers in the Central Valley made it through another challenging year and brought in a quality, but lighter harvest. Watch this brief interview with Jeff Bitter from Allied Grape Growers as he describes the season’s successes and challenges, as well as wine market conditions — based on his recent State of the Wine Grape Industry address at the Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo. Read more about it in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.
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2022 California Wine Grape Crop & Market Update
Various climate/weather-related disasters over past several years have limited California grape production, and this year appears to be no different with a spring freeze impacting some grape growing regions of the state. Watch this brief interview with Jeff Bitter from Allied Grape Growers as he shares a statewide outlook for the 2022 wine grape crop and how that will fit into current wine market trends. Read more in American Vineyard Magazine.Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support. -
California Wine Grape Planting Trends with Allied Grape Growers
In addition to the grape crush report, its also nice to get a good picture of where the California wine grape industry currently stands from a vineyard acreage and planting perspective. What varieties are being planted and where in the state? How’s the vineyard planting to removal ratio looking? Watch this brief interview with Jeff Bitter from Allied Grape Growers reporting from Unified Wine & Grape Symposium on the results of their annual nursery survey. Read more about about planting trends and the state of the wine grape industry in American Vineyard Magazine.Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support. -
Preharvest Conversations Growers & Wineries Need to Have Regarding Smoke Taint
“Uncertainty” seemed to be the theme of 2020 for all, and it was no different for the wine industry. Unfortunately, this uncertainty continues this year for wine grape growers as they gear up for harvest amidst another threatening wildfire season. With severe drought plaguing the American West, it’s not a question of if, but when more wildfires will occur and whether they will compromise the integrity of the wine grape crop with smoke tainting compounds. Many growers fear the possibility of rejections at the winery should their crop be impacted by wildfire events. To mitigate some of this uncertainty, watch this brief interview with Jeff Bitter, President of Allied Grape Growers, as he shares some key insights on some of the conversations growers really need to have with their wineries upfront this year to prepare for potential smoke taint concerns. Also, read a detailed report on the topic in the August issue of American Vineyard Magazine.Please thank this video’s sponsor Vmech for their industry support.