For better or worse, I do not participate in social media. And have a dumb phone. As it were (https://www.thelightphone.com/). I usually wait for the winery to send out smoke signals. I can wait.
They’re raising the price due to a good score? I guess Bordeaux always adjusts prices for the quality of the vintage, but this example from Bevan strikes me as a dick move.
Guess so - that is the email direct from the winery. I like some of Bevan’s wines. I attended an offline dinner with him in NYC that was enjoyable. It is not meant as ill will. But in the last few months I’ve seen his email list offer back vintages at a discount (I got 2019 Otntogeny for $75/bottle direct from Bevan Cellars), he shut down the Adversity brand (merged half into Bevan Cellars, the rest he stopped producing) and I’ve seen his wines on CellarText. Oh and its pretty sure he has sold bulk juice to DeNegoce before.
Just saying the man knows the struggle to move product, yet he decides to increase pricing on a single SKU due to a score. Makes me scratch my head
I don’t disagree with that either, as it takes times for these things to work themselves out.
It’s going to take a village to get through this, and from what I hear, there is entirely too many people dug in right now thinking they can weather the storm. That could only prolong the issues.
Can you expand on that Ian, for someone who has no inside knowledge of the industry? Are there specific things that can be done collectively that will help that aren’t being done because people are trying to ride it out individually?
Know the temperature of the times folks. No offense for anyone that owns land in Napa. Wine is hard for everyone right now… but ain’t no $100+ B label in Napa talking about Adversity
Maybe it’s the new partners? I mean field of dreams you can’t make a $600 bottle of wine unless you charge $600? They will always come right… I built it didn’t I???
One person said the number of acres planted far exceeds demand, and that’s just if we are talking about Napa (IIRC, he said something like 11,000 acres of Napa vines would have to be removed to meet actual demand, which is a staggering number). The problem exists in many places though, and not just Cali. The overall amount of wine being produced is far too great. Sure, it will certainly mean some brands/wineries closing up shop, but the overall production is remarkably high.
We also as an industry over estimate how many single cultivars people are interested in.
The vineyard management teams for hire are like oh yeah definitely plant some more Pinot in Oregon, oh definitely plant more Cab in WA and CA… ha.
Realistically like a 60-70 year old quality wine producing country. Babies. We are experiencing the come back to Jesus moment all historic wine regions have gone thru.
AOC’s, DOCG’s… etc created to put some controls on qty and quality. AVA’s are the Wild West with a participation award.
My question is “ If Napa actually produces the best cab fruit, why would it necessarily take a large hit? Seems to me while Napa might struggle, Alexander Valley, Mendocino, Lake County, Sonoma, etc. cab fruit would be taking the more massive hit. Of course some price adjustment s would be needed for Napa fruit.
I haven’t been by in several years, but I wonder how A. Beckstoffer’s huge Lake County bet is doing?
I think the short answer to your question is available cash. I don’t think banks are willing to lend money unless you are a well-established brand. Even if so, the current interest rates make purchase pretty shaky if you’re looking at 10% interest. You better be sure you can sell all of those grapes or sell all of the wine made from those grapes. That’s a pretty big gamble for most small wineries.