With the U.S. wine industry under pressure from declining sales, shifting consumer trends, and economic headwinds, Sonoma County’s vintners and grape growers are coming together in an unprecedented way to confront these challenges – and chart a positive path forward for the local industry. A steering committee of regional leaders has been formed to explore establishing the Sonoma County Wine Improvement District (WID) to provide stable, strategic funding for the long-term strength and sustainability of Sonoma County’s wine and agricultural economy.  The stakes are high. The marketplace is changing rapidly and maintaining the status quo is not an option. The wine industry is facing challenges like never before which must be addressed to reverse the decline and grow the overall wine category.  This effort is significant and grounded in a fundamental truth: grape growers and vintners are inextricably connected, and the success of one depends on the strength o

Growers Enjoy Near Perfect Growing Season SANTA ROSA, Calif. (October 31, 2024) – The 2024 winegrape harvest has just completed in Sonoma County and both growers and vineyard employees are raving about what may be one the best vintages in the past 50 years. According to Karissa Kruse, president and CEO of the Sonoma County Winegrowers, “the best word to describe the 2024 Sonoma County harvest is smooth!” Added Kruse, “The tonnage varied by grape variety and AVA, but the quality was outstanding across the region. As the vineyards turn dormant, most farmers are hosting celebratory lunches and parties for their vineyard employees and crews and relaxing a bit before pruning season and another cycle begins.” The start in early to mid-August for most grape growers was considered a return to normal, after a late start in 2023. The season was blessed with beautiful weather and little to no pressure to pick until the fruit was showing its best flavors and acid

A Later and Prolonged Harvest Led to Exceptional Quality and Quantity  SANTA ROSA, Calif. (November 20, 2023) – August 24th marked the beginning of another record-breaking harvest in Sonoma County and winegrowers and their vineyard employees finally gathered recently in a local vineyard to discuss the year and the outstanding quality of the harvest. Their comments, both in English and Spanish, are provided below and the harvest roundtable can be viewed here. The year started with a winter and spring filled with above-average rainfall and below-average temperatures that got the growing season off to a slow start, delaying harvest well past the early-August “norm” of the past few drought-impacted years.  A mild spring and summer allowed for ample hang time, enabling the fruit to develop with stunning quality, and a few late-summer heat spikes are thought to have “made the vintage” according to Steve Sangiacomo, Partner at Sangia

In the heart of Sonoma Valley, the Sangiacomo family has had a deep tie with the San Francisco Giants for generations. Touring Sangiacomo Vineyards with Evan Goldstein and Amy G, Steve Sangiacomo connects grape growing and baseball, sharing how both grape growers and baseball players respect the generations that played the game and worked the land before them.

In September 2020, Sangiacomo Family Wines’ 2018 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay became only the second white wine to ever take top honors at the prestigious Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge (in 2015, Roche Winery & Vineyards’ 2013 Reserve Chardonnay from Carneros won the title)... The post A Winning Partnership appeared first on Wine Industry Advisor. Url:https://wineindustryadvisor.com/2021/02/03/a-winning-partnership?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-winning-partnership Published Date:Wed, 03 Feb 2021 21:00:17 +0000