Here are the key findings from the latest BC Wine Grape crop report. Note the metrics for 2017 are based on responses from 60% of the BC wineries. This is an improvement over 2015 when only 50% provided data. The data collected is only for the BC Mainland wineries.
Tonnage Data
The graph below shows the BC Wine Grape tonnages that were harvested in 2017 for the top 13 varieties. Merlot for red grapes and Pinot Gris for white grapes retained their number one tonnage positions as for 2015. The total tonnage was 5.7% higher than 2015.
When compared to 2015 we see the significant increase in Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Viognier and Riesling at the expense of Sauvignon Blanc for 2017. The Sauvignon Blanc Production was even lower than the 2013 harvest! This may be due to one of the major Sauvignon Blanc growers not responding to the survey this year?
For red grapes, Gamay Noir, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Pinot Noir all saw good growth.
The following pie Charts shows how the tons were distributed over the BC Mainland Wine Regions. 47% of the wine grape crop was grown in the Oliver Region.
Pricing
The following interactive table shows how prices have increased by around 10% on average over 2015.
| Variety | 2015 Average Price/Ton | 2017 Average Price/Ton | Price increase % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riesling | 1790 | 2120 | 18.4 |
| Viognier | 2267 | 2632 | 16.1 |
| Pinot Noir | 2270 | 2604 | 14.7 |
| Chardonnay | 2033 | 2316 | 13.9 |
| Merlot | 2466 | 2764 | 12.1 |
| Cabernet Franc | 2563 | 2856 | 11.4 |
| Gewurztraminer | 1866 | 2061 | 10.4 |
| Cabernet Sauvignon | 2563 | 2801 | 9.3 |
| Syrah / Shiraz | 2683 | 2926 | 9.0 |
| Savignon Blanc | 1799 | 1956 | 8.7 |
| Gamay Noir | 2063 | 2194 | 6.3 |
| Pinot Gris | 2076 | 2160 | 4.0 |
| Pinot Blanc | 1822 | 1889 | 3.6 |
| Average Price Increase | 10.6 |
Riesling saw the highest price increase at 18%. The average wine grape price was about $2,400 per ton.
This is 35% higher than Washington State grape price (Exchange Rate of 77 US cents per $CDN). For example, Washington’s Cabernet Sauvignon sold for $US1,600 per ton on average compared to $CDN2,801 for BC grapes.
BC Wine Grape Value
The total value of the 2017 BC Mainland wine grape crop was $65M. Merlot was the highest value varietal and 35% of the red grape crop. The following bubble graph shows the relative value <tonnage times price> for the top 13 varietals and the dominance of Merlot.
US West Coast Wine Grape Comparison
Napa Grape Prices
Prices for red wine grapes from California rose 5.1% in 2017, compared to 2016, while white wine varieties dropped 3.6% in price, according to the preliminary California Grape Crush Report released today by the California Department of Food and Agriculture in cooperation with the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service².
Washington State Grape Prices
Washington wine grape growers harvested 227,000 tons in 2017, according to the Crush Report released by Washington State Wine Commission on Thursday. That’s down about 16% from the record-breaking 270,000-ton harvest in 2016, but very similar to the 2014 and 2015 harvests³.
The average price per ton of $1,198 is the highest in recent years, $41 above 2016. The most expensive grape was Petit Verdot, at $1,700, followed by Mourvedre, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Grenache Noir, and then Cabernet Sauvignon in the $1,600 to $1,500 range.
Conclusions
- The total 2017 tonnage was 5.7% higher than in 2015.
- The average price was 10% higher.
- Riesling saw the highest price increase at 18%.
- Merlot was the highest value varietal and 35% of the red grape crop.
- 47% of the wine grape crop was grown in the Oliver Region.
You can find a similar analysis for the 2015 wine grape crop here.
Acknowledgement
A special thank you to the BC Wine Grape Council for providing the detailed crop metrics for 2017.
References
- The link to the last three BC Wine Grape Crop Reports is here.
- Napa Grape Prices Up 11.5% – Wines & Vines
- 2017 Washington wine grapes fetched high prices – Good Fruit Grower