The numbers are in and they tell a story of abundance. The 2018 wine grape harvest in Sonoma and Napa Counties was bountiful by any standard and the quality is equally outstanding. Each year we provide a breakdown of the current weighted average wine grape prices for popular varietals in Sonoma and Napa.
This year we see a general continuation of an upward trend in pricing with a couple exceptions including Pinot Noir, and Syrah in Sonoma County. While these drops are relatively mild they do point to a change in the overall market. 2018 produced a surplus of wine grapes and now the market has to literally absorb the excess and adjust. At this stage it is hard to say what this means for a longer term trend. It will likely depend on how the 2019 harvest shakes out.
The data below comes from the Annual Grape Crush Report prepared by the California Department of Food and Agriculture . Here is the catch, and something to be aware of during periods of excess fruit, the grape crush report only includes wine grape prices for wine grapes under contract. The grape crush report does not consider wine grapes that are sold under an old fashion “hand shake” agreement, wine grape tonnages that were in excess of contracted amounts and were not sold, or end of season sales to move wine grapes that were not under contract. In other words, when there is excess fruit the grape crush report doesn’t always give a precise reading of the market. To be clear, it would be very difficult to track non contracted wine grape sales / non sales. That said, the grape crush report is a valuable and integral part of determining baseline market rates throughout California.
Weighted Average Prices For Wine Grapes in Napa & Sonoma Counties
| County Average | Price Per Ton | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napa County | ||||||
| 2018 | Trend | 2017 | 2016 | 2018 High | 2018 Low | |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $7,925 | + | $7,509 | $6,829 | $50,000 | $150 |
| Pinot Noir | $2,707 | - | $2,798 | $2,779 | $7,200 | $500 |
| Merlot | $3,760 | + | $3,387 | $3,352 | $30,625 | $306 |
| Zinfandel | $4,013 | + | $3,623 | $3,520 | $7,600 | $350 |
| Syrah | $3,956 | + | $3,738 | $3,591 | $8,055 | $1,750 |
| Chardonnay | $2,917 | + | $2,809 | $2,673 | $8,500 | $450 |
| Sauvignon Blanc | $2,423 | + | $2,279 | $2,142 | $7,429 | $479 |
| Sonoma County | ||||||
| 2018 | Trend | 2017 | 2016 | 2018 High | 2018 Low | |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | $3,114 | + | $3,073 | $2,966 | $17,666 | $500 |
| Pinot Noir | $3,802 | - | $3,908 | $3,678 | $17,600 | $350 |
| Merlot | $1,962 | + | $1,918 | $1,815 | $17,666 | $400 |
| Zinfandel | $3,102 | + | $3,005 | $2,840 | $10,017 | $100 |
| Syrah | $2,774 | - | $2,778 | $2,596 | $6,000 | $475 |
| Chardonnay | $2,367 | + | $2,335 | $2,163 | $13,057 | $275 |
| Sauvignon Blanc | $1,793 | + | $1,736 | $1,687 | $4,600 | $432 |
More 2018 highlights:
The bottom line is that there will be more excellent quality wine for all to enjoy.
Cheers!
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