Napa Valley Vintners File Economic, Harvest News.

In the 75 years since the repeal of prohibition, the Napa Valley has grown from a mere handful of wineries, once uncertain of their future, to a pace-setting, world-renowned wine region that boast over 400 wineries. This is the view of a soon-to-be released, 9-page study conducted by analyst Barbara Insel, of Stonebridge Research, for the Napa Valley Vintners, and was summerized at a media presentation in the Ferry Terminal building in San Francisco on Tuesday.

Outlining the study, which reportedly took "months" to do, was NVV executive director Linda Reiff. She pointed out that in the early 1900s the Napa Valley had over 140 wineries. That number then dropped to a handful, and even by the late 1960s the number had reached only 25. According to the report, Reiff added that quality and consistency, as well as the county's geography and climate, have now changed the face of the valley and greatly enhanced its reputation and economic potential as a fine winegrowing region.

"The Napa Valley AVA is one of the smallest grape growing regions in the world, yet it is the most diverse, and it's wine production has the greatest economic impact in the state," Reiff said. "Even though it produces only four percent of California wines, it has a 30 percent impact on the California economy, and 34 percent on the impact that California wine has on the U.S. economy."

In addition, the study revealed that wineries add an annual value of $11 billion for Napa County alone, and an additional value of $41.9 billion nation wide. "The strength of the reputation of Napa's legendary wines is strong in the marketplace," the report concluded. Reiff added that 95 percent of the wineries in the Napa Valley are family owned, and most produce 10,000 cases or less.

Reiff also indicated that while the valley is only 35 miles long and 5 miles wide, it contains 33 different soil series, and 100 soil variations, combined with a vast array of microclimates. She showed aerial slides of both Santa Clara county and Napa county in 1975 and in 2005. While both regions appeared similar 33-years ago, the new evidence showed extreme, urban sprawl in the Southbay county. Napa, however, continued to emphasize its agricultural base. Reiff said the aim of the NVV is to protect this unique quality.

Other speakers included Susan Boswell, owner of Chateau Boswell Winery; Bruce Cakebread, president of Cakebread Cellars; and Chris Howell, winemaker at Cain Vineyard and Winery.

Howell, who leads the NVV's Climate Study Task Force, noted that Napa is the first appellation, worldwide, to conduct a full study of climate. His committee has been assisting two climatologists Dan Cayan of Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and Kimberly Nicholas-Cahill, at Stanford University, who have been
working to recapture historical vintner and grower records to better understand the valley's climate shifts.

"Climate change is an ultra-long issue, " he said. "You're planting a vineyard for a generation --40, 100, even 200 years, And we need to be grounded in reality. Our concern is for a complete study, for up and down the valley, and across from hills to hills." He also noted that global warming is producing some divergent questions. "While it seems to be getting warmer in the interior, it seems to be getting colder along the coast. There still is a lot we don't know."

Boswell, whose winery was among the first to become "Napa Green," said the program for green land certification began in 2000 to help determine land-use according to each owner's specific, property site. Napa Green Land hopes to determine long-term plans for cover crop management, erosion control, stream bank stabilization, wildlife habitat, and the reduction of farm chemicals. It is designed to ensure the best practices in sustainable land and vineyard management and meet the standards set by regulatory agencies. Currently there are nearly 25,000 acres enrolled in Napa Green Land

Presently there are ten wineries that are green certified, and four awaiting certification. "Green business is smart market business," she said, "And we were thrilled to be part of the pilot program to reduce our carbon footprints. It costs less to recycle than to haul away; and by reducing our bottom line, we can pay more to employees and improve our winemaking, and improve our relationship with the people in Napa County."

Cakebread reported on the 2008 growing season, and said this year was "a crazy start" that kept everyone guessing. While most growers admit to a lower yield, most are pleased with the higher quality. "Yields ranged from a low of 30 to 40 percent to an almost normal crop," he said. "The Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay were very good, very healthy crops. the Cabs were just so, so. It was a short crop. With the reds it was a popcorn vintage, with varied size berries, some dry skins, but good density and color."

According to Cakebread, the big problem was when to pick. "In some cases, it took a whole month to pick one vineyard," he said. "Irrigation management, too, was critical this year; but, all-in-all, we had low mildew problems, very bright fruit with good acidity, and should see long-aging wines." He compares them, so far, to the 1999 and 2001 vintages.

Cakebread thinks Napa's great secret weapon is its people, who continue to share ideas and experiences, and to work with each other to solve the problems that affect an agricultural community. "Often we have to remind ourselves what our product is -- it grows in dirt, comes from a vine, lives in a wooden barrel and we stick a piece of bark in the bottle as a stopper. Part of our 'Napa Style Statement is that our people are dedicated to the community and its resources and are constantly striving to be better."