|
US & NZ WINE SALES UP FOR 2002
In spite of our non-robust economy, wine sales in the US grew by 4% in 2002. This is the biggest single
year jump since California wineries cut prices five years ago to garner additional market share over the
imports.
Total wines sold, both domestic and imported, in 2002 was an estimated 247.3 million cases. This shatters
the old record set in the 80's when wine coolers were the craze.
Almost one in four bottles of wine we enjoy on our tables here now comes from foreign soil. Italy is by far
the largest importer to the US, followed by Australia, then France. Australia overtook France for the first
time this past year.
Winemakers agree with the quality of the wines rising higher and higher, it is getting increasingly more
difficult to differentiate between domestic wines and the imports.
Already, the grape market has a glut of Cabernet grapes. And a good 25% of the newer vineyards will not
even be producing their Cabs and bringing them to market for another three years. Bad for the growers;
great for the consumers.
One member of a wine consulting firm has estimated the US would have uproot over a 1000 acres of
Cabernet vines to begin to restore a sense of market balance.
Christian Miller, director of research at MKF Research, St. Helena, CA believes by 2005, there could be a
surplus of 2 million cases of luxury (over $30) California wines as consumers switch to lower priced, high
quality wines.
In Napa and Sonoma, 36% of the cabernet vines are not yet old enough to produce a crop, but will come
into production over the next three years.
And the problem does not end with Cabernet grapes. Pinot Noir grape harvesting has doubled since 1998,
and 40% of newer vineyards have not even begun producing fruit. These, too, will enter the market with
new fruit over the next three years.
Chardonnay appears to have used up their excess after cutting production as demand softened over the past
few years.
Two small harvests, 2000 and 2001, cut into the export plans of New Zealand. However, the 2002 crop is
reported to be at near record harvest levels. This will be the first year in the past three that export wines
will be marketed toward the needs of the industry instead of allocating wine to customers.
The Merlot crop is up over 153% over 2001, Cab up 57%, Chardonnay up 99%, Sauvignon Blanc up 76%,
and Pinot Noir up 30%.
While California may be experiencing a glut, and find their wines more difficult to market, forcing more
competitive prices, it seems New Zealand wines have not yet grown to meet their demand.
Marlborough was again the largest single producing area, with 47% of the total harvest. Along with
Hawke's Bay and Gisborne, these three areas account for 91.5% of the 2002 New Zealand harvest.
Dan Berger, noted columnist for Wine & Spirits magazine, thinks New Zealand wines are among the best
in the world. So does Captain Vino.
Go into any wine store. Pick up any NZ wine and take it home. The export requirements set by the NZ
government for their wines is so high and so strict, you will be taking home an exceptional and delicious
wine.
Look for Hawke's Bay Cabs, Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs, and Martinsboro Pinot Noirs.
<< Back
|
