jerem@tekgvs.UUCP (Jere Marrs) (02/10/85)
The latest Wines & Vines (February) has the vintage reports for the Fall
1984 crop across the country. I'll summarize the *important* areas in the
Northwest and California (note humor).
In western Oregon, the Willamette Valley, the growing season got started
late after a cool wet Spring. Flowering began in late June and early July -
very late. After the rains stopped, there was a very long dry period in July
and August which was almost ideal for flowering and fruit set, but
unfortunately, it was a very cool period also. Tonnage was up but quality was
down. Downward prices reflect a growing parity between grape supplies and
winery capacity.
In eastern Washington (Yakima Valley), the Spring was also cool. Many
varieties are recovering from freeze damage in 1983 notably Chenin Blanc and
Cabernet Sauvignon, among others. Whites yielded lower sugar and higher acid
than usual, but reds had almost optimum acid/sugar balance. Wine grape yields
were down from 1983. There are 40 wineries now in Washington with ten scheduled
to be added in 1985.
The North Coast Counties of California fared somewhat better than the
Northwest. They had a record wet Spring, but then a very rapid growing season
for the rest of the Summer with temperatures well above normal. Napa County was
seeing temperatures above 100 degrees as early as May. The heat persisted
through most of the growing season. The grapes matured very fast and gave the
sparkling wine people a run for their grapes with harvesting beginning two to
three weeks early. All varieties matured at about the same time making for a
picking labor problem. Some Zinfandel and Riesling raisined on the vines and
were lost, but most made it to the crush. Many grapes were crushed to the
grower's accounts in hopes for a bulk market later. Quality is estimated to
"range from excellent ot somewhat disappointing." In Napa County, the crop was
large with 90,000 tons from 26,000 acres.
By the way, Leon Adams is predicting a red wine boom. You have laid away
those bargain Cabernets and Zins haven't you?
Jere M. Marrs
Tektronix, Inc.
Beaverton, Oregon
tektronix!tekgvs!jerem