2014 Calif Wine Grape Crush: 3.91 Million Tons, 3rd Largest Ever

 News From:

United States Department of Agriculture &
National Agricultural Statistics Service

California crushed 3.91 million tons of wine grapes in 2014 according to the  Preliminary Crush Report from the United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

That is down 7.9% from 2013’s 4.246 million tons but is still the third largest grape crush in California’s history.

NASS said that red wine varieties accounted for the largest share of all grapes, crushed, at 2,134,995 tons, down 12 percent from 2013. The 2014 white wine variety crush totaled 1,775,183 tons, down 3 percent from 2013.

Average prices for red wine grapes, $883.45, up 4 percent from 2013; white wine grapes, $588.30, down 6 percent from 2013

In 2014, Chardonnay continued to account for the largest percentage of the total crush volume with 17.2 percent. Cabernet Sauvignon accounted for the second leading percentage of crush with 12.3 percent.

Grapes produced in District 4 (Napa County) received the highest average price of $4,064.95 per ton, up 10 percent from 2013. District 3 (Sonoma and Marin counties) received the second highest return of $2,313.82, up 3 percent from 2013.

The 2014 Chardonnay price of $858.26 was down 1 percent from 2013, but the Cabernet Sauvignon price of $1,412.92 was up 5 percent from 2013. The 2014 average price for Zinfandel was $621.84, down 5 percent from 2013, while the Merlot average price was up 2 percent from 2013 at $771.21 per ton.

Access the full California Grape Crush Report, Preliminary 2014 here