2009 is almost over and many of us are still waiting for the signs of the economy to begin turning around. The 52-week low for the Dow back in March was wallowing near 6,440 then we recently hit a 52-week High just 2 weeks ago topping 10,158 only to slump again now to 9,800 as of today’s close. During the same period, retail sales for wine have been in a slow decline with some recent hope as sales were up for the second consecutive month at 7% better than September, with October sales up 4% over the same period last year. Good news, right?
Not so fast my friend… many California winegrowers have had a rough harvest as rains interrupted the season causing many to either pick early, risking non-optimal sugar and acid levels or keep the grapes on the vine risking damage and rot. Furthermore, many of those growers never had buyers waiting on the other side for that fruit or if they did prices were at huge discounts. As a result, fruit is being left rotting on the vine, being given away or being made into wine by the growers themselves. I don’t know how many wineries have closed down due to this economy… it’s much easier to find that information for banks, though 
But, I am sure there will be some casualties unfortunately. Even for those who make it through the year, just imagine the frustration of cultivating that vineyard all year long waiting for that one moment at harvest only for it not to arrive and having to watch, literally, the fruits of your labor, dwindling, dying, rotting on the vine. A very sad story indeed.
Furthermore, Amazon pulled out of the online wine selling business for good before they even really go started, which is a buzzkill for many hoping such a model would help pave the way for more DTC and eCommerce opportunities for wineries in this country and apply some pressure against the archaic 3-tier distribution system.
Maybe not all was lost, though, as 2009 fruit quality in California sounds fairly good, if not great. A cooler growing season allowed for slower maturation of the grapes which can result in more distinct varietal characteristics to develop before the grapes become too ripe, so I’ll wait in anticipation for this vintage and the bitter-sweet accomplishment it represents. Please, help your friendly, small-to-medium sized winery by buying their wines and visiting their wineries… you never know when they might disappear.
Cheers!
I concur, we should do more to support the smaller wineries. Problem is, its almost impossible to identify who owns who these days. I mean look at Kendall Jackson, they own labels like Murphy-Goode, Hartford Court, Cambria, LaCrema and untold others. Most folks would never know that.
Labeling laws also don’t make things any easier, since many wineries don’t own their own vineyards and buy their juice from others.
I definitely support the notion, but the average consumer doesn’t have the tools to help, nor do they really care. If they did, we wouldn’t have Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, etc.
In the end, the Big Box mentality has pulled the wool over so many eyes.
If you want to support smaller wineries, definitely visit them and talk to your local wine buyer (except at the Big Box) to see what they suggest.
Good points, Kevin. Sometimes you wonder if there is any hope as the big keep getting bigger… but, we need to start somewhere at least with oenophiles such as ourselves who have a forum via blogs and social media community… thanks for the comments!