An unusually early and light wine grape harvest is moving quickly across California’s North Coast, but the smaller crop is arriving as growers and wineries wrestle with weak grape demand, higher operating and regulatory costs and renewed uncertainty over farm labor expenses.
Sauvignon Blanc is largely harvested in Napa and Sonoma counties, Pinot Noir is nearing completion and Chardonnay is coming in, while Cabernet Sauvignon picking has begun unusually early in warmer parts of Napa Valley, according to Christian Klier, North Coast grape broker for Turrentine Brokerage.
Light crop, uneven demand…