Vineyards hit hard by rain

June 25, 2011

By NATHAN HALVERSON
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
Published: Monday, June 13, 2011 at 6:41 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, June 13, 2011 at 6:41 p.m.
Grape growers are basking in the sunny weather — at least emotionally.
Physically, they are sweat soaked and tired from working long days to catch up on rain-delayed tasks and assess the damage from an unseasonably wet spring.
“This weather is just ideal,” said Nick Frey, president of the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission. “Things are now growing rapidly.”
It is a sharp contrast to the cool spring that has plagued growers, who are anxiously awaiting the first signs of grape formation to determine the extent of crop damage from the wet weather.
The late-spring storm that dropped up to 2 inches of rain during the first weekend of June likely cost Sonoma County growers tens of millions of dollars.
“We likely lost 10 to 15 percent of our crop due to the rain,” said veteran grower Jim Murphy. “There is nothing I can do about it.”
The torrential rain hit vineyards at a critical time of the growing season, when many vines had opened their flowers to begin the delicate process of self-fertilization that usually results in grapes.
Late-season rain can wash away pollen, or prevent the flowers from fully opening. As a result, even though the weather is now perfect for growing, fewer grapes are likely being formed.
“In two or three weeks we should have a good idea of where it is at,” Frey said.
By then, clusters of BB-sized grapes in the earliest stages of formation will start becoming visible if fertilization has occurred.
Source: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110613/BUSINESS/110619801

Wine imports to Hong Kong increased by as much as 78% in the first two months of 2011, according to Benjamin Chau, deputy executive director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council.
He told the drinks business that per capita consumption in Hong Kong was now 3.7 litres per person per year and that wine imports have increased dramatically and consistently since the country abolished duty on wine in February 2008.

“Wine imports for Hong Kong increased by 79.5% in 2008, and in 2009 – even during the financial crisis – Hong Kong still achieved an increase of 40%, while in 2010, wine imports increased by 73%.”

He added: “Not all the wine we import we consume in Hong Kong and much of it is for re-exporting to China.

“In year 2009, Hong Kong exports to the world increased by 75% and in 2010 we had high double-digit figures for export.”

Looking ahead he said: “For the next three years the Chinese market consumption of wine will go up probably no less than 100%.

“Chinese people more health conscious and in the past they drank strong liquor – Maotai – but now they are admiring of the western way of life and are more keen to consume table wine, so future wine consumption will grow rapidly,” he concluded.

Click here to hear more about the growth of wine sales in the Far East and Chau’s plans to develop the market using the Hong Kong International Wine Fair.

Patrick Schmitt, 16.06.2011

Source: http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12886&Itemid=66