(February 9, 2024, Novato, CA) – The California Department of Food & Agriculture’s Preliminary Grape Crush Report for 2023 was released today. The crush of 3.668 million tons stayed in line with the Ciatti Company’s earlier pre-harvest projections of 3.5 - 3.7 million tons 

Ciatti’s experienced brokers are available for further details, comments & analysis on the 2023

California Grape Crush Report. Please call 415-458-5150.

North Coast

The takeaway from the North Coast is that the 2023 crush looked a lot like the rest of the state where wineries were willing to receive grapes only to the contracted volumes and then held growers to that number. Unlike much of the rest of the state, in the North Coast there was a late season spot market for grapes in Napa and Sonoma that cleaned up any extra tonnage. A noteworthy highlight from the North Coast harvest in 2023: Napa County harvested 92,262 tons of Cabernet Sauvignon up from 73,812 tons in 2022. - Chris Welch 

Central Coast

As California moved through harvest in 2023, the crop reports from the Central Coast were coming in over crop estimates. The tonnages are reflected in the crush report. What’s more interesting, or surprising, is that pricing increased even with the yields trending upward. Cabernet continues to be king in Paso Robles crushing over 95,000 tons, the largest Cabernet crop in 5 years. - Todd Azevedo 

Interior

Overall the Interior tonnage actually crushed in 2023 was very similar to 2022. What isn’t known is the significant amount of grapes not crushed due to disease conditions or being left uncontracted. Zinfandel was hardest hit down 39% in District 13 and down 28% in District 11. Conversely, Chardonnay had a big comeback in the Northern Interior with an increase of 66,000 tons in Lodi and Clarksburg combined. - Johnny Leonardo

Looking ahead to 2024

Looking ahead to 2024, we can’t help but to look back and wonder what the actual 2023 crush total would have been had all grapes in the state gotten picked? As the evidence of unpicked grapes still hangs on dormant vines there is an air of uncertainty. With most wineries operating under the assumption that growth in wine sales in 2024 looks to be limited, those wineries will be looking to reassess their needs as a fair amount of grape contracts expired in 2023. If a winery is on the positive side of sales growth they are in a good position to be selective both in the grape and bulk wine market. - Johnny Leonardo 

About CIATTI GLOBAL WINE & GRAPE BROKERS

The Ciatti Company is the world’s largest and most comprehensive bulk wine and grape brokerage. Aside from its home base in Novato, California, seven additional offices around the world provide clients the kind of information and intelligence that today’s competitive global wine industry demands. 

The company, founded in 1971, has deep roots in the wine industry, both in California and the countries in which the company operates. The current partnership includes industry professionals with over 135 years of collective experience including: Greg Livengood, Glenn Proctor, John White, Chris Welch, Steve Dorfman, and Todd Azevedo and brokers: Johnny Leonardo, Jed Lucey, and Dennis Schrapp. 

Contact: Ciatti Company, Molly Richardson, 201 Alameda Del Prado # 101, Novato, CA 94949 molly@ciatti.com Phone (415) 458 – 5150 Fax (415) 458-5160 

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California Crush Report