November 18, 2024 – California Wine Crisis What It Means for You

The California wine industry faces significant challenges as declining consumer spending, excess inventory, and an overabundance of grapes from the 2024 harvest create economic strain. However, experts predict a turnaround by 2026, with supply and demand expected to rebalance and opportunities for consumers to find high-quality wines at reduced prices in the interim.

Table of Contents

  • California has Too Many Grapes and Too Much Wine. 
  • Always wanted to be a Chianti Classico Expert, well now you can be!
  • Let’s all do the Sommelier Shuffle – It’s like the Time Warp, only different. 

Wine News Round-Up

Wine Spectator – California’s Wine Crisis—Too Many Grapes

Let’s sum up the California wine industry’s problems:

  • Consumer Spending Drop: Wine sales are declining as consumer spending decreases.
  • Inventory Overflow: Excess inventory is causing backups in the sales pipeline.
  • Harvest Surplus: A glut of grapes and bulk wine remains from the 2024 harvest.

But the article does see an end in sight:

Turrentine predicts the market will begin to recover in 2026 as supply and demand comes into equilibrium, Klier said. Meanwhile, consumers may start seeing some real deals as producers lower prices to reduce inventory and take other cost-cutting actions. “To some degree, it’s going to be a benefit for consumers, at least in the short term,” Proctor said.

Klier agreed. “An oversupply situation means there’s going to be a lot of affordable wine—high quality wine—out there for the consumer.”

New York Post – Nyc Liquor Stores Were ‘crazy’ Busy On Election Night — With Workers Revealing One Bizarre Trend Among Customers

This is a funny article about liquor sales in NYC on election night. Perhaps the cure for the wine industry’s problems is to have more elections.

Several customers selected champagne or a nice burgundy for those anticipating a celebratory mood, but wine represented the most sales Tuesday night by far…

Half the people were like, ‘I’ve got one [bottle] for bad news, and I’ve got a good one for good news…

Decanter – Chianti Classico Launches Free Online Course

Want to become a Chianti Classico Expert?  Well, the regions producers have created a free online course for those eager to expand their knowledge of the region’s iconic wines.

The Chianti Classico Massive Online Open Course is aimed at sommeliers, wine professionals, journalists and wine enthusiasts.

Anyone can sign up for the course, which is divided into five modules consisting of short and engaging videos.

After watching the videos, users will take a short final test. If you successfully complete it, you will receive an official certificate from the Consorzi Vino e Olio Chianti Classico, attesting to your newly acquired knowledge.

Robb Report – We’re Tired of Sommeliers Upselling Us

Great article.  We have all had this happen to us.  So, if I can suggest, perhaps check out the corkage fee and bring your own bottle.  Problem solved. 

Picture this: You’re with a group of friends at a Michelin-starred temple of cuisine scrutinizing the oversized leather-bound wine list for the perfect pour to start off dinner. Remaining conscious of your dining companions’ cost expectations on a shared check, you find a trio of appellation village white Burgundies in the $110 to $150 range and ask the tight-suited sommelier which bottle he thinks would go best with the oysters you’re about to order. You already have an idea which one you are getting, but he’s standing there, so why not let him do his job? Sliding his finger down the page to just about $500 (while practically obscuring the name of the wine he is suggesting) he intones, “Those are very good choices, sir, but I would recommend this one.”

Wine & Winery of the Week

  1. Brand & Family Wines & Tasting Room

Carmel Valley has an off-the-beaten-path feel compared to Napa Valley and Sonoma County, both of which have been wine tourism hot spots for decades. On a recent visit through Central California wine country, we swung through the center of the valley, right down Carmel Valley Road, in search of one of the most talked about producers most wine drinkers have never heard of: Ian Brand.

2019 Mesa del Sol “Prima Rossi”  91 Points

Mesa del Sol Estate & Winery isn’t just a place to savor award-winning wines – it’s a historical haven nestled in the heart of Monterey County’s Arroyo Seco AVA. Founded centuries ago as a stagecoach stop, this charming estate has been reborn as a vibrant winery and vacation retreat under the guidance of Gary Lyons and Stacey Schrader. 

But the true magic lies in the hands of Ian Brand, a winemaking legend in the making, who crafts exceptional wines using estate-grown fruit. Whether you’re seeking a romantic getaway, a unique wedding venue, or simply a bottle of “Prima Rossi” to tantalize your palate, Mesa del Sol offers an experience unlike any other – a blend of history, hospitality, and phenomenal winemaking. 

Restaurant and Corkage of the Week

Fish Gaucho: Great Mexican Food in Downtown Paso Robles

Fish Gaucho is a great upscale Mexican restaurant in downtown Paso Robles. Fresh seafood plus wine country hospitality equals an amazing dining experience in a convenient location.Few restaurants hold the distinction of holding two “best of” titles, but for locals in Paso wine country, Fish Gaucho is considered one of the best seafood restaurants in Paso Robles and one of the best Mexican restaurants in Paso Robles. And to top it all off.  It’s corkage fee is only $15.

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