The Art of Growing Winegrapes
to Make Great Wine
Growing Winegrapes
Art
Science
Way of Life
Jobs
Tax Revenues
Exports
Tourism
Economics
GREAT WINE!
Production in Over 40 States
Grape Crop Value
Billions
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
Year
19
93
19
95
19
97
19
99
19
85
19
87
19
89
19
91
19
77
19
79
19
81
19
83
19
69
19
71
19
73
19
75
0.0
Rural Renaissance
• More than 2,000 wineries
in America
• A winery in every state
• Central part of the Rural
Renaissance
Great Wine Begins with
Top-Quality Grapes
Long-Term Investment:
• $1 million investment to
get started
• 3 years before vines
produce viable crop
• Even longer to produce
positive cash flow.
Climate and Geography
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•
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•
•
•
•
Soil type
Average rainfall
Temperature
Humidity
Sunshine
Winds
Other Climatic Factors
Soil Sample
Tuscan Stony Loam:
• Well-drained
• Pebbles & cobbles
• Low fertility
• Scarce water
…Makes for good
grapes!
Choices: Site and Varietals
• Site determines quality
• Choosing the wrong
site can be a costly
mistake.
• Anticipating market
demand is key.
Growing Practices:
Spring
•
•
•
•
Frost protection
Vine, bud protection
Cover crops
Mowing and chemical weed control
Summer
•
•
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Canopy Management
Moisture control
Pest management
Sulfur application
Irrigation
Fall
•
•
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Harvest
Timing is key
Birds love grapes, too!
Busy time for growers
and wineries.
Winter
•
•
•
•
•
Cover crops
Controlled burns
Pruning
Weed control
Grapes are dormant
Growing with Care
Dealing with the elements
• Water supply
• Weeds
• Protecting wildlife habitat
• Insect invasion
Integrated Pest Management
•
•
•
•
•
Ecology and dynamics of the crop
Ecology and dynamics of the pests
Assessing levels of pests & natural enemies
Establishing economic thresholds
Use most appropriate controls
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–
–
–
–
chemical
cultural
biological
behavioral
genetic
Water Conservation
• Drip irrigation
• Accurate fertilizer
application
• Vineyards use less
water than other farms
and housing
developments
Soil Quality
•
•
•
•
Add organic matter
Build soil structure
Micro-organisms
Improve water
penetration
• Minimize erosion and
water run-off
Owl Boxes and Raptor Perches
Growing Responsibly
•
•
•
•
Reducing herbicide use
Using advanced technology
Sound labor practices
Reduced-risk pesticides
Million Gallons
U.S.
Spain
Italy
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
France
World Wine Production
• U.S. is fourth largest
wine producer in the
world.
• Argentina, Germany,
Australia and South
Africa follow.
• U.S. share: 7.2%
World Wine Consumption
• The United States
ranks third in world
wine consumption.
• But per capita
consumption is a
lowly 34th!
U.S. Wine Exports
600
500
400
300
200
$ Million
2000
1999
1998
1997
0
1996
100
1995
• Exports have climbed
16-fold from $35
million in 1986 to
$560 million today.
• California accounts for
more than 90% of the
nation’s wine exports.
U.S. Wine Export Markets
UK
26%
Canada
19%
Netherlands
14%
Other
26%
Japan
12%
Germany
3%
California
• 90% of US wine production
• 565,000 acres in 45 counties
• 847 commercial wineries family owned
• Economic Impact: $33 billion
• Fourth largest wine producer
in the world
Michigan
• Wine grape acreageapproximately 1500 acres (2000 data)
• 24% increase since 1997
• Michigan wineries produce more than
200,000 cases of wine annually
• Approximately two million liters
• High proportion from Michigan
Grown Grapes
• Michigan has 30 wineries (up from 17 in 1995)
• Open to the public for tours and tasting
• There are an additional 14 tasting rooms
affiliated with the wineries around the state
• Recent MSU study determined economic
impact in 2000 was $75 million
• $16.6 million attributed to
tourist spending on non-winery
products and services in
those communities
New York
• 121 wineries, 100 are new
since 1985
• 2.7 million winery visitors
last year
• 31,400 acres of grapes 13,000 in winegrapes
• 40.8 million gallons of
wine annually
Washington
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•
•
•
•
Rapid Growth
30,000 acres of winegrapes
170 wineries
$2.4 million economic impact
“Wine Region of the Year”
Oregon
•
•
•
•
More than 180 wineries
11,000 winegrape acres
Threefold growth since 1990
$120 million in wine sales
Texas
•
•
•
•
1.6 million gallons produced in 1997
40 wineries and growing
2 million gallon potential
Annual economic impact: $100 million
Pennsylvania
• 68 family-owned wineries
• 14,000 acres of winegrapes
• Mild winter climates
Ohio
• Long history of winemaking
• 60 new wineries since 1965
• State encourages growth in
quality and quantity
North Carolina
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•
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550,000 gallons annually
850 bearing acres
Farmgate value: $2.66 million
Muscadines date back to Colonial days
$25 million wine sales from 22 wineries
Maryland
• 76 vineyards
• 200 growers
• 90,000 gallons
Missouri
•
•
•
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37 registered wineries
$26 million in wine sales
256 jobs
450,000 gallons
Virginia
•
•
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200 commercial growers
71 licensed wineries
2,100 bearing acres
500,000 visitors
Adding Value
Rural Renaissance
Adding Value
Rural Renaissance
Adding Value
Rural Renaissance
Adding Value
Rural Renaissance
Adding Value
Rural Renaissance
Appellation
• Denotes all-important geography and
microclimate
• Informs the consumer
• Encourages quality standards
• Indicates unique climate, soil, topography
and history
Great Wine Comes from
Top-Quality Grapes
Acknowledgments
Project Director: Karen Ross, President
California Association of Winegrape Growers
Author and Art Director: Anne Chadwick
The Chadwick Company
Facts and Photography:
American Vintners Association
Fetzer Vineyards
Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission
North Carolina Department of Agriculture
Ohio Wine Producers Association
Oregon Wine Advisory Board
Pennsylvania Wine Association
Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers
Alliance
Sonoma County Grape Growers
Association
Texas Department of Agriculture
University of California
Washington Wine Commission
Winegrape Growers of America
Wine Institute
WineVision