California celebrates bumper crop

Favourable weather conditions and increased plantings have led California to produce a bumper grape crop in 2013.

Harvesting in Sonoma. Photo credit: Stark Insider

As reported by AP, the California Department of Food and Agriculture has calculated that the 2013 crop of red and white varieties across the region weighed in at 4.23 million tons, up 5% on the 2012 figure.

With 2012 also an abundant year in California, back-to-back bumper crops should translate to savings being able to be passed onto the consumer.

“Consumers are in a great position because of the amount of wine that is coming out of California,” Erica Moyer of Riverbank, a grape and wine broker for Turrentine Brokerage in Novato, told California newspaper The Modesto Bee.

According to the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG), wine grapes harvested in California were worth US$3.16 billion last year, making them one of the state’s most profitable commodities.

“After small crops in 2010 and 2011, growers delivered two remarkable vintages, with record-sized harvests and exceptional quality,” Heidi Scheid, chairwoman of CAWG, told AP.

Home to 44% of California’s grape production, large growers in the San Joaquin Valley are poised to benefit from this year’s bumper crop.

“We had a good quality harvest and heavier than expected,” Fred Franzia, CEO of Bronco, California’s largest vineyard owner, said.