We don't know what the future holds, it's uncertain and that needs to be ok. Have to live with ambiguity and being lost for a while, that is how change happens. We do know things are changing and need to change more.
It depends on the economy, the prices of wines, and whether the market is oversaturated. I used to work at a Sonoma County winery way back, and it's sad to see good wines of theirs being sold at Grocery Outlet. Those prices are definitely more affordable for buyers, though....
I think the current downturn is an opportunity to reassess; the old "one door closing" adage. The industry has a chance to re-establish the values and quality of the product they offer. Scaling back to a more affordable way of doing business will translate to lower prices and higher quality. I doubt anyone in the valley will miss the giant, over priced, "Disneyland" wineries. We need to establish smaller, biodynamic wineries whose focus is on wine rather than entertainment. Napa wines are already established and highly desirable. Out of necessity, most consumers have become very savvy about finding high quality at lower prices. No one needs to spend $60 or more for a good bottle of wine as excess product is being offered under alternative labelers at low prices and other areas, such as Washington, Oregon, Lodi, New Mexico, and Santa Barbara are giving Napa real competition with high quality and lower prices. The industry should take a cue from those sales. I think the new generation of winemakers/wineries understands this and will embrace it. I have great hope for the industry going forward and believe this correction desperately needed to happen.
We don't know what the future holds, it's uncertain and that needs to be ok. Have to live with ambiguity and being lost for a while, that is how change happens. We do know things are changing and need to change more.
It depends on the economy, the prices of wines, and whether the market is oversaturated. I used to work at a Sonoma County winery way back, and it's sad to see good wines of theirs being sold at Grocery Outlet. Those prices are definitely more affordable for buyers, though....
Excellent article. My fingers are crossed by checking "...recover in 5 years." :-)
I think the current downturn is an opportunity to reassess; the old "one door closing" adage. The industry has a chance to re-establish the values and quality of the product they offer. Scaling back to a more affordable way of doing business will translate to lower prices and higher quality. I doubt anyone in the valley will miss the giant, over priced, "Disneyland" wineries. We need to establish smaller, biodynamic wineries whose focus is on wine rather than entertainment. Napa wines are already established and highly desirable. Out of necessity, most consumers have become very savvy about finding high quality at lower prices. No one needs to spend $60 or more for a good bottle of wine as excess product is being offered under alternative labelers at low prices and other areas, such as Washington, Oregon, Lodi, New Mexico, and Santa Barbara are giving Napa real competition with high quality and lower prices. The industry should take a cue from those sales. I think the new generation of winemakers/wineries understands this and will embrace it. I have great hope for the industry going forward and believe this correction desperately needed to happen.