2009 Grape Acreage Summary Shows Planting Imbalances

California’s 2009 wine-type grape acreage is estimated at 531,000 acres. according to the 2009 California Grape Acreage Report, 2009 Summary released. Of the total acres, 489,000 were bearing and 42,000 were non-bearing.

And while the leading wine-type varieties continued to be Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, the percentage of non-bearing acres are among the smallest in the estimate.

According to the summary, 75,791 acres are planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, but only 1,994 of those are non-bearing. Likewise Chardonnay grows on 94,986 acres, with 4,551 of those still non-bearing.

Pinot Noir, by comparison shows 6,049 non-bearing acres of a total of 36,338. Pinot Gris, with a total acreage of 12,698 acres has 4,022 non-bearing.

The more detailed California Grape Acreage Report, 2009 Crop, which includes acreage by variety and county, will be released April 13, 2010.