Economic Woes Raise Wine Industry Questions
SHERWOOD, Ore. -- The grape harvest is getting underway in Oregon's vineyards under the dark cloud of an economic crisis and possible unwelcome rains.
Wine growers said they aren't worried since fine wines aren't usually viewed as a luxury.
"Fine wine is a lifestyle choice. It's not a luxury and so good food and good wine and a reasonable price is what everybody's looking for," vintner Jerry Owens said.
The wine growers said they're focusing on making good decisions in the vineyard to make the best possible wine from their grapes.
Pinot Noir grapes grow on the Merrymen Vineyard west of Carlton the vintners decided Wednesday that the grapes had finished their growth and were ready to take the next step in becoming a bottle, which will be ready for sale a couple of years from now.
"They're 24 percent sugar so they're ready to go the acids are right and it looks good," Owens said.
The grapes must be stemmed, crushed, fermented, barreled and aged before it becomes wine ready for sale.
Ken Wright's sellers in Carlton are looking at their 35th harvest, venerable veterans by Oregon standards.
"It looks very good. The fruit everywhere is quite healthy. It's very healthy. We have no disease at all. Berry size is beautiful and the berries are fairly small, which means that all of your flavor and aroma and color are in the skins," wine maker Ken Wright said.
Wright said the grapes got a late start this spring, but based on what he tasted Wednesday he said it could become an outstanding vintage.
But he said the economic turmoil may change the way wine is sold in the region, but it's too early to tell.
"All of our pinot noirs have been selling on futures for 20 years and so they're sold way before they're even bottled. Whether that trend will get upset by this economy we have yet to see," Wright said.
Wine growers hope that they can create fine wines from this season's pinot noir grapes and that customers' loyalty can be rewarded in the future.
Growers prefer harvesting under sunny skies and dry vineyards so the rainy forecast isn't particularly welcome in Oregon's wine country.
Wright said that last season they had five inches of rain during the harvest and still produced highly respected wine.
Oregon winemakers said they're ready to do it again this year if they have to.
Economic Woes Raise Wine Industry Questions