WINEAMERICA’s Post

CALIFORNIA WINE AND VINEYARDS ARE IN TROUBLE The statistics speak volumes: California is America’s number-one wine producer, producing 81 percent of U.S. wine sales. There are approximately 637,000 acres planted to wine grapes, making the Golden State the fourth-largest wine producer in the world. Not surprisingly, those endless rows of vines generate amazingly diverse wine tasting experiences—including everything from high-end pairings in the Napa Valley to neighborly barn tastings in Sonoma County to cave tours and winemaker chats from Mendocino County to Temecula. California Insider / Story by Siyamak Khorrami: California is home to some of the world’s most renowned wine regions, including Napa Valley, Sonoma, and Lodi, making it a top global wine producer. However, the state’s wine industry is facing a significant slowdown in sales. Wineries are filled with unsold inventory and grape growers are struggling to find buyers for their grapes, even at steep discounts. https://lnkd.in/ekRYzjaw

My latest article for North Bay Biz - about the "hot wine" that is bucking the slowdown in wine sales. https://lnkd.in/gnKGHN_M

"Blue-chip California bottles will frequently command three, four or five-digit sums on the secondary market...To fully consider the state of California collectibles, we gathered secondary-market data on dozens of wines to deduce the most iconic California bottlings today." Kate Dingwall and Jim Gordon writing for Wine Enthusiast on the top 10 California wines to collect right now - read the full article here: https://hubs.li/Q02K2Crj0

California’s wine history is rich and diverse, spanning over 240 years from humble beginnings at the Mission de Alcalá in San Diego to becoming the powerhouse responsible for 80% of US wine production today. The North Coast, with its renowned regions like Napa Valley and Sonoma, shines with its diverse terroirs, producing everything from bold reds like Cabernet Sauvignon to delicate whites like Chardonnay. Moving down the coast, the Central Coast offers great value wines, thanks to its ideal conditions for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir near the coast and exceptional Syrah further inland. The Sierra Foothills boast bold and flavorful wines, with a focus on Zinfandel but also showcasing varieties like Barbera and Syrah. In the Inland Valleys, while large-scale production dominates, exceptions like Lodi’s old vines offer quality wines. The South Coast faces challenges with sparse plantings and low acidity due to the hot climate, but pockets like Temecula are developing a wine tourism industry. Finally, the Redwoods region, though small, contributes aromatic white varieties like Riesling and Gewürztraminer, thanks to its cooler climate.

Imagine you are across the country, or across the world, perhaps on a wine tasting tour in South Africa. What numbers do you need to know to understand how your winery is performing? Total revenue? Perhaps compared to the same period last year? Total cash in the bank? Both of these numbers are important, but they aren’t enough to give a complete indication of how business is performing. You need to get a little more specific if you want to use your KPIs to make critical business decisions. This is especially true for wineries, where cash flow is typically very, very different than profitability. Let’s talk about the winery KPIs that you need to keep an eye on for winery performance, whether you’re away from it or not: https://lnkd.in/g3Hr6v4q #wineries #kpi #wineryaccounting

🍷 The boxed wine revolution is finally happening in the US! As someone who had their "aha moment" over a decade ago while enjoying a stellar boxed rosé at the PIERRE AMADIEU estate in Gigondas, France, I've long advocated for premium wines in this format. Wine Business Monthly reports that established producers like Tablas Creek Vineyard and Bedrock Wine Co. , along with innovative newcomers like Juliet and Really Good Boxed Wine , are seeing tremendous success. The numbers speak for themselves - some producers have doubled production to meet demand, with boxes selling out in hours. Why it matters: - 50% cost savings on packaging - 84% lower carbon footprint - Weeks of freshness after opening - Equal quality to bottle formats France gets it - 44% of their wine sales are boxed. It's time we embrace this sustainable, practical packaging for wines meant to be enjoyed young. What are your thoughts on premium boxed wines? Have you tried any standouts lately? #WineIndustry #Sustainability #WineBusiness #Innovation

For Champagne and California Sparkling wine, the past two decades have been complete and utter bangers, with both regions producing more (and arguably better) sparkling wines that are more enthusiastically consumed by broad swaths of the global populace than ever before. Champagne and California sparkling wine, broadly speaking, are different creatures, but they also share many similarities, especially when we focus on the traditionally produced Golden State sparklers made from Champagne grapes, primarily Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The French and California wine industry have also always shared the kind of simultaneously admiring and disdainful rivalry that pushes each party to ever-greater heights of performance. While California has often looked to France for best practices in terms of classic farming on production methods, France has in turn ripped pages out of California's playbook when it comes to the business of hospitality and outreach. For the past 20 years, Champagne and Méthode Traditionelle California wine have helped pushed each other to the level of popularity and acclaim that they currently occupy. But how can they possibly continue to grow this aggressively? And do they even want to? Considering their current level of popular success, many producers seem to be approaching the next two decades with less of a growth, more of an evolution mindset. Read the full piece in Wine-Searcher https://lnkd.in/dZ9i7Ncg

Lake County Winegrowers are committed to producing high-quality winegrapes to complement your winery's portfolio. If you're in need of bulk wine or 2024 winegrapes, look to Lake County to elevate your program. Lake County winegrapes deliver the intensity, character, and phenolics necessary to create wines with the flavors that today’s consumers seek. For winemakers, brokers, and bulk wine buyers, high-quality Lake County winegrapes can contribute to a range of your wine programs, including appellated wines from Lake County, or one of its eight subappellations, the North Coast AVA, or California — or blended into regional wines to support your bottom line without sacrificing quality. Lake County fruit enables savvy wine brands to over-deliver on quality and value to consumers in today’s market. View available grapes and bulk wine: https://bit.ly/3PPdDm4

The Origins of Boxed Wine: A Journey from Australia to America 🍷 Boxed wine, a staple for many American college students and young adults, traces its origins back to 20th-century Australia. While the concept became popular in the United States during the 1980s, it initially took off in Australia a decade earlier. In the 1950s, the Sholle family in the U.S. developed the bag-in-box packaging system for battery acid, which inspired Thomas Angove of Angove Family Winemakers in South Australia to apply the concept to wine. Angove’s innovation addressed the fragility and spoilage issues associated with glass bottles, setting the stage for boxed wine’s evolution. 📦 The early iterations of boxed wine in Australia featured wine poured through a spout and sealed with a peg or paperclip. Recognising its potential, Penfolds, another Australian winery, collaborated with inventor Charles Malpas to develop a tap for the wine bag. Although initially stored in tins, the transition to the American bag-in-box method solidified the packaging we know today. By the 1970s, boxed wine had become a sensation in Australia, capturing a significant market share due to its affordability and convenience. 🍇 Boxed wine’s success in Australia paved the way for its introduction to the American market in the 1980s, where it quickly gained popularity. Despite fluctuations in its global appeal, boxed wine remains iconic in Australia, comprising a significant portion of the market. As the industry continues to innovate and adapt to modern tastes, boxed wine offers a cost-effective and versatile option for consumers, with its roots firmly planted in Australian ingenuity. #BoxedWine #WineIndustry #AustralianInnovation #WineHistory

A white wine with annualised returns of 20-40% The Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru is considered one of the greatest white wine lables on the planet. It costed closer to £1000 a bottle just 10 years a go. Today a bottle costs £10,000-30,000, depending on the vintage. According to our data there are currently a grand total of 4 bottles for sale on the UK open market. Of any vintage. “Rare” doesnt quite cut it. 🍇 The producer, Domaine d'Auvenay is rumoured to produce “just 10,000 bottles” annually according to IG WINES. 🍇 The domaine consists of under four hectares, spread over sixteen different appellations. 🍇 The annualised return of these wines over the last 7 years is 20-40% depending on the vintage. Truly remarkable. Can this kind of price appreciation continue? At WineFi 🍷 our take is that wine portfolios are best when diversified across price ranges. Capturing both ends of the investment-grade wine market, the up-and-comers and the legends, of which d'Auvenay is certainly one.