Rising fuel prices compound market hesitancy The sluggishness of activity on the bulk wine market globally since the turn of the year continued through March into early April, with hesitancy compounded by a rise in fuel prices – by approximately 30%+ in most countries – as a consequence of the conflict in the Middle East. Prices spiked amid the Southern Hemisphere harvests, directly impacting the picking of at least one: this month’s report provides the latest insights from the vineyards. As this month’s California page states, the Iran war is likely to compound some pre-existing consumer pessimism, “with upward pressure on fuel costs exacerbating the reduced spending power consumers have possessed since the 2021-23 post-pandemic inflation spike. Unlike in previous eras when there has been economic misfortune, consumers are pessimistic about the long term – not just the short or medium term – and could curb spending accordingly”. Not wha

Vibes more positive, not yet the hard facts and figures An unseasonably warm start to spring in California has accelerated vine development in the growing areas to a marked extent: This month’s report relays the latest news from the vineyards – and how it may, or may not, affect the bulk wine and grape markets – and delves deep into the California Department of Food & Agriculture’s Preliminary Grape Crush Report for 2025, published last month. The state’s smallest winegrape harvest in 26 years, combined with some improved mood music regarding case-good sales – if lacking hard figures to support it – has helped create a feeling that the wine industry is headed in the right direction. Before the sunlit uplands are reached, however, more painful rightsizing must occur, and we continue to see vineyards removed and mothballed, crush and storage capacity taken offline, and companies shrinking, merging, or shuttering altogether. In the shorter te

2025 Dry Creek Valley — Cabernet Sauvignon This excellent bulk wine listing features over 8,600 gal. of 2025 Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Lytton Manor Vineyard, a site known for its certified organic farming and deep-rooted commitment to sustainable viticulture. Grown in one of Sonoma County’s most sought-after Cabernet regions, this offering reflects the balance, structure, and varietal purity that Dry Creek Valley is known for — delivering fruit well-suited for premium standalone bottlings or strategic blending programs. Backed by a long-standing reputation for quality and consistency, Lytton Manor Vineyard provides both pedigree and transparency, with direct access to availability details and grower insights through the listing. Whether you’re sourcing fruit for your core program or exploring new vineyard partnerships for the future, this is an opportunity to secure Cabernet Sauvignon from a trusted and proven source: View Listing Good Wine

Why Wineries Need Influencer Marketing Now Here's a number that should reshape how you think about marketing: 69% of consumers trust influencer recommendations more than information coming directly from a brand That's not a slight edge. That's a fundamental shift in how people decide what to buy. For wineries, this matters more than it does for most industries. Wine is a considered purchase wrapped in uncertainty. Your potential customer is standing in a tasting room or scrolling through an online store, wondering: Will I like this? Is it worth the price? Am I making the right choice? Influencer content answers those questions in ways traditional marketing cannot. When a trusted voice says "I tried this Pinot and it's incredible with grilled salmon," that carries weight. It's a peer recommendation disguised as content. Instagram and TikTok now drive wine discovery among younger audiences, and 87% of Gen Z consumers say they're willing to buy products

2.62: A Historic Reset by Steve Fredricks  The release of the preliminary 2025 California Crush Report confirms an evolutionary shift in the state’s wine landscape. With the total crop recorded at 2.62 million tons, the industry has hit its lowest production level since 1999. This marks the second consecutive small harvest, resulting in a staggering one-million-ton decrease in tons harvested compared to just two years ago. For the consumer market, this translates to roughly 73 million fewer cases available between the 2023 and 2025 vintages, reflecting a deliberate, industry-wide effort to bring wine production back into balance with current demand.  The impact of this contraction was felt most acutely in California’s interior regions. While coastal areas saw a 51,000-ton decrease compared to 2024, the interior experienced a much sharper drop of 170,000 tons. This disparity highlights a significant trend: acreage is being removed from production at a higher rate

March 13, 2026 (Novato, CA) — Following the release of the Preliminary 2025 California Grape Crush Report, Turrentine Brokerage, the largest California grape and bulk wine brokerage company, has issued a market assessment characterizing the 2025 vintage as one of the most challenging for the wine industry since Prohibition. According to the new state data, the total tons crushed came in at 2.62 million tons, a figure that is above initial projections and well above what was felt by the industry. This statewide volume is 8% below 2024 and 23% below the 5-year average. Total red wine production declined by 9% and white wine production declined by 6%. “The decrease in tons is still very positive news for the industry overall,” said Steve Fredricks, President at Turrentine Brokerage. “The 2025 vintage highlights the industry’s directional shift of declining production and an overall restructure of the industry. 2025 represented continued challenges for grower

California’s smallest winegrape crush since 1999 March 13, 2026 — The California Department of Food & Agriculture’s Preliminary Grape Crush Report for 2025 was released today, March 13th. The winegrape crush of 2,623,443 tons was down 8.4% versus 2.866 million tons in 2024 and the smallest since 2.617 million tons in 1999, but above the Ciatti Company’s guesstimate of 2.4 million tons. The final tonnage, although lighter than 2024, was perhaps slightly higher than many expected. This may be an indication that yields were larger than anticipated, as there was a significant portion of unpicked grapes. Some observations: The harvest in District 4 (Napa) was down overall by 2.2%, with Cabernet Sauvignon down slightly by 1.4%. Cabernet production was down 4.8%, with a total of 432,666 tons in 2025 versus 454,606 tons in 2024. Chardonnay production was down 7%, totaling 491,036 tons versus 527,798 tons in 2024. Pinot Noir production was down 12.9%, totaling 189,84

2026 Alexander Valley Bordeaux Grapes Now live on the WIN Marketplace: 2026 Alexander Valley / Pine Mountain Bordeaux grapes, grown at 2,000 feet above the Russian River. This offering includes all five Noble Bordeaux varietals, providing the opportunity to craft a complete Meritage or classic Bordeaux blend — a true one-stop sourcing solution for producers building out a cohesive red program With a 25-year track record supplying well-known premium Napa and Sonoma wineries, this vineyard brings both pedigree and high-elevation character to the table. Whether you’re sourcing fruit for blending, program expansion, or long-term vineyard partnerships, this listing provides direct access to availability details and grower contact information in one place: View Listing Thinking Ahead to Your Own Wine or Grape Sales? As planning continues for the year ahead, the WIN Marketplace is a valuable channel for producers and growers looking to sell bulk wine or grapes and connect di

An exceptionally small 2025 grape harvest would help balance wine inventories and potentially stimulate grape demand next year There wasn’t much change in the complexion of the wine market in the third quarter. Sales continued to decline across channels and price points, though at varying rates. Some segments improved while others worsened. Wine exports continued to flag because of provincial bans in Canada.  I continue to believe the slump is mainly structural, particularly at the lower end of the market (see Page 3). But I also believe economic factors such as inflation and depressed consumer sentiment have played a role, and I expect wine sales to firm up once the economic backdrop improves. Unfortunately, we aren’t expecting much change in the economy, for better or worse, in the months ahead, so the wine market isn’t likely to see much improvement either.  2025 was a painful year for California grape growers. Weather was an issue, but the grape market p

2024 Sonoma Carneros Pinot Noir One of this month’s standout bulk wine listings on the WIN Marketplace is a 2024 Sonoma Carneros Pinot Noir — a great example of the quality wines currently being offered directly by producers on the platform. If you’re a buyer sourcing Pinot Noir for upcoming vintages, blending programs, or production planning, this listing is worth a closer look. Full details, specs, and direct seller contact are available on the Marketplace: View Listing Thinking Ahead to Your Own Wine or Grape Sales? As planning continues for the year ahead, the WIN Marketplace is a valuable channel for producers and growers looking to sell bulk wine or grapes and connect directly with qualified buyers. Whether you’re offering finished wine, planning ahead for grape sales, or preparing to list future availability, creating a listing early helps build visibility and start conversations sooner: Build early visibility Control your pricing and messaging Conn