Monday, March 21, 2022

Dan Berger: California Crush Report

Most consumers are well aware of how impacted they are by inflation -- and each industry that has to explain why its prices have gone up has a slightly different explanation.

Whether it's supply chain issues, trucking problems, delays at sea, raw material shortages or labor issues, none are the only reasons. Several explanations apply to each industry.

What's most obvious, of course, are gasoline price rises, which impact almost everyone; petrol is one of the vital essentials to our normal life activities.

And as wine is an optional luxury for most people, seeing prices climb for our favorite vinous products may be hard to accept, but price increases don't represent a life-and-death situation.

And so, it was interesting last month when the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) released its preliminary grape crush report. One result of that report was seeing how high prices for wine grapes have moved upward as a result of several factors that most industry observers could see coming.

Devastating fires, pandemic-induced labor shortages and Mother Nature's usual persnickety-ness over the last four years all created difficult situations for both wineries and grape growers. 

This will have the effect of causing them all to face the reality that no one will make as much money in 2022 as they did in the last few years. And next year won't be a picnic either.

Disparity between wine prices and grape prices was subject to strange economic analytics after the pandemic-imposed restrictions forced wine salespeople to adapt to new models and new strategies and to face new realities.

As a result, some wineries actually saw revenues increase in 2021 over normal periods, partly due to creative direct-to-consumer sales strategies.

However, prices for wine grapes continued to rise, according to the CDFA crush report, and the sales forecast for the next two years is about as clear as your bathroom mirror after a hot shower.

For one example, if you thought Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon was expensive before this, what's ahead may be shocking.

In 2021, the average price for a ton of wine grapes in Napa was almost 33% higher than the year before, to $6,091! The average ton of grapes yields abut 150 gallons of juice, or roughly 70 cases of wine. 

More than half of the grapes in Napa are cabernet. But regardless of variety, we can use an old formula to see what's ahead for retail pricing.

Traditionally, the price of a bottle of wine is linked to its grape price by a simple formula. The shelf price roughly equates to 1% of the grape price. In this case, the average bottle of Napa Valley wine should be about $61.

Offsetting that, to a small degree, is that growers almost universally said the crop quality was exceptional.

By contrast, even though Sonoma County grape prices rose 10% over the prior year, the average price of a ton of grapes translates to an average bottle price of about $26.

And most local wine lovers suggest that Sonoma County produces some exceptionally high-quality wines. And Sonoma has more wine to sell than does Napa. Sonoma's vineyard plantings exceed Napa's 45,000 acres of vines by an additional 15,000 acres.

What also was interesting in the report was that the one area of California that seemed to be spared enormous price increases was Santa Barbara County. In 2021, Santa Barbara grape growers reported an increase of 6% in the volume of fruit they received, and the average price was down 11%.

It is for that reason that we selected the following wine for its astoundingly good value.

Wine of the Week: 2019 Huntington Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara County ($26) -- Pali Wine Co.'s Huntington brand of pinot is a blend from several vineyards in the prestigious Santa Rita Hills appellation. This wine reminded me of one that probably could sell for about twice as much, based on its remarkable quality. It has a trace of the distinctive central coast dried herbs, is more reflective of its fruit than of any production values, such as oak, and will probably improve for several years. It has often been seen for around $23, and at that price is an absolute steal.  

To find out more about Dan Berger and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2022 CREATORS.COM


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I started reading this article then realized it was just another damned story about wine. Movin' right along...


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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


Meet KIM Waaaaaade at the Entergy Tent. For five pesos, Kim will sell you a chance to win a deed to a crack house on Ridgeway Street stuffed in the Howard Industries pinata. Don't worry if the pinata is beaten to shreds, as Mr. Wade has Jose, Emmanuel, and Carlos, all illegal immigrants, available as replacements for the it. Upon leaving the Entergy tent, fig leaves will be available in case Entergy literally takes everything you have as part of its Trollfest ticket price adjustment charge.

Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Trollfest '07

Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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