2014 Calif Grape Market ‘Slower Than Slow’ Crop Size Estimates Vary

The market for 2014 California wine grapes, “is slower than slow,” according to Nat DiBuduo, President of Allied Grape Growers. “Some scarce purchases are significant lower than 2014 prices. There are lots of grapes on the market with very limited buyer activity.”

DiBuduo said he thinks that Glenn Proctor of the Ciatti Company, is “pretty spot on” in a similar market assessment covered by Farm Press: “Grape sales slow in face of prospects for another big crop”

However, DiBuduo said he thought Proctor, “may be a little more optimistic on the size of the crop. The way sugars are developing on all varieties it may suggest the crop is lighter than expected driven by weather and the drought.”