The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s 2009 Preliminary Grape Crush Report, released yesteday, shows that the 2009 vintage is the second-largest wine grape crop in California’s history.
More is better, yes? That would depend on what side of the wine business one is on.
For producers of high-end wines, this is a migraine on top of the hangover caused by the economic fallout, which has backed up inventories and forced deep discounting. For brands based on bulk-wine purchases, and for value-seeking consumers, 2009 is cause for celebration – more cheap and cheerful wines are on the way.
According to...