Excellent depressing article. The growers raising their tasting room prices to such outrageous proportions really has hurt the Napa economy I believe. And the prices of wine have risen. Napa wines are and were a luxury. The ripple effect from Trump's assaults on the economy is phenomenal. People are afraid to spend money because there is such uncertainty in the future. And supply of labor from migrants will continue to decline. So it's bleak. NAPA wine is the fruit of the Gods. It's also a culture. I would love to see this turned around. Fortunately we have a governor who actually respects the Napa Valley. That's one ray of hope.
I can't help but wonder why new wineries keep coming into the valley. We are over saturated with them. I think in many cases it is an ego thing - I have my own wineries in Napa Valley even tho I live in Timbuctoo and visit now and then.
Why should I buy a current release wine at record high pricing, when I can get the same wine with age ready to drink usually for less in the secondary market.
An ever-growing plethora of regulations, restrictions, fees, new taxes, and overbearing government control is killing off a lot of other businesses too.
As you might know, many businesses are leaving California because of the highest taxes and regulations in the country. Chevron, Tesla, Charles Schwab, In and Out Burgers, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, etc. I refer you to Michelle Benvenuto’s article “Why are wineries regulated differently?” in the St. Helena Star, Sept. 18-24 edition.
But wine sales and production are largely down in every state? So, how is this a state factor? Also, the number of winery licenses continues to increase in both CA and Napa County, so businesses are certainly interested. Beyond that, California is the largest market both in terms of production and sales.
I beg to differ. Simply an oversaturated market. Only in Napa County do people spend millions of dollars to cut down the forest for yet more Cabernet in a market awash in grapes. Clearly the vanity vineyard, the boutique dream, the long shot investment has come home to roost. It's not the fees it's thousands of acres of grapes planted in Napa County that amounts to a large scale hobby for so many.
Excellent depressing article. The growers raising their tasting room prices to such outrageous proportions really has hurt the Napa economy I believe. And the prices of wine have risen. Napa wines are and were a luxury. The ripple effect from Trump's assaults on the economy is phenomenal. People are afraid to spend money because there is such uncertainty in the future. And supply of labor from migrants will continue to decline. So it's bleak. NAPA wine is the fruit of the Gods. It's also a culture. I would love to see this turned around. Fortunately we have a governor who actually respects the Napa Valley. That's one ray of hope.
I can't help but wonder why new wineries keep coming into the valley. We are over saturated with them. I think in many cases it is an ego thing - I have my own wineries in Napa Valley even tho I live in Timbuctoo and visit now and then.
Why should I buy a current release wine at record high pricing, when I can get the same wine with age ready to drink usually for less in the secondary market.
Interesting point. Perhaps in the past people already owned such older vintages? Thank you.
An ever-growing plethora of regulations, restrictions, fees, new taxes, and overbearing government control is killing off a lot of other businesses too.
Very interesting. Can you point to an example of each / any of these so that we might explore for future stories? Thank you.
As you might know, many businesses are leaving California because of the highest taxes and regulations in the country. Chevron, Tesla, Charles Schwab, In and Out Burgers, Bed, Bath, and Beyond, etc. I refer you to Michelle Benvenuto’s article “Why are wineries regulated differently?” in the St. Helena Star, Sept. 18-24 edition.
But wine sales and production are largely down in every state? So, how is this a state factor? Also, the number of winery licenses continues to increase in both CA and Napa County, so businesses are certainly interested. Beyond that, California is the largest market both in terms of production and sales.
I beg to differ. Simply an oversaturated market. Only in Napa County do people spend millions of dollars to cut down the forest for yet more Cabernet in a market awash in grapes. Clearly the vanity vineyard, the boutique dream, the long shot investment has come home to roost. It's not the fees it's thousands of acres of grapes planted in Napa County that amounts to a large scale hobby for so many.