State winegrape forecast declines

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has lowered its annual winegrape forecast to reflect this year’s difficult start to the growing season, which was plagued by frost in the Central Valley, late rains on the North Coast and cooler spring weather across the state.

The California wine grape forecast is now 3.4 million tons, down 6 percent from last season.

“The 2011 California grape crop is one to two weeks behind normal, due to the cool and wet spring,” according to the report released Tuesday. “Bunch counts were reported to be down significantly from last year for wine grapes.”

The total grape forecast is 6.70 million tons, down less than 1 percent from last year’s crop. Bunch counts were up for Thompson grapes.

The report likely comes as no surprise to winegrape growers.

“Mildew and fungus have been a problem for many growers, due to the wet weather,” according to the forecast.