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Howard W. Hewitt

~ … The "W" stands for wine!

Howard W. Hewitt

Tag Archives: harvest

Mixing Wine, Politics Messy

22 Thursday Dec 2016

Posted by Howard in California, Newspaper Column 2016, Uncategorized

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harvest, Immigration, Migrant workers, wine sales

Mixing the world of politics and wine might be a bit like oil and water for some readers. But there comes a point, and it could come soon, that politically-based decisions could have a huge impact on wine and particularly the cost of wine.

President-elect Donald Trump’s repeated talk of deportation of some or all of the nation’s 11 million undocumented workers has thrown a scare into wine country.

grape-sense-logoAll across the nation many vineyard owners use mostly migrant or Hispanic workers to harvest the annual grape crop. While visiting upper state Michigan in 2010 winery owners talked about the lack of a strong labor market for harvest and the scare of immigration changes that could cost the industry dearly.

The numbers are big. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates 67 percent of people picking fruit each year are immigrants.  The Ag department reports that harvesting costs represent 72 percent of labor cost in making Napa Valley wines. The only crop with a higher percentage of labor cost in California is asparagus.

If the harvest workforce was substantially reduced the impact would range from more expensive end products to the reduction of product in the marketplace. Hiring legal workers would, frankly, be more expensive.

The other alternative is to make the switch to machine picking. The two negatives with machine picking is the cost of the equipment and a hit to wine quality. The top bottlings from any region are almost always hand-picked and sorted.

A big labor problem could soon get worse. Of course, this isn’t a wine problem only. The cost of fruits and vegetables could all increase with a big increase in labor cost. Some crops could just disappear from the market shelf.

On another front, the end of the year brings Top 10 lists, surveys, and sales numbers. Wine trends are evaluated every month of the year but it’s worth sharing for those who aren’t inundated in wine news.

It is no surprise that red wine blends continue to be one of the hottest categories in wine retail. Blends are turning up everywhere. The market for blends is moving toward bigger and bolder. Wine buyers want rich red wine with grapes like Malbec, Petite Sirah, and Petit Verdot.

Another interesting year-end chart really jumped off the page. Wine sales can be broken down many different ways. Recently I saw a list of the nation’s best-selling wines based on actual sales.

The top ten sellers for the year were: Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Veuve Clicquote Yellow Label Champagne, Trivento Malbec Reserve, Hara de Pirque Hussonet Gran Reserva Cabernet, Meomi Pinot Noir, Rombauer Chardonnay, Miraval Rose, Clos du Val Cabernet, Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet, and Borgo Scopeto Chianti Classico.

There is a real price range in those top ten sellers. The Brancott sells for under $10 while the Caymus Cabernet domes in at $69.99. Five of the top ten wines retail under $20.

 

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In Vineyard at Harvest is an Education

16 Monday Sep 2013

Posted by Howard in Indiana

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Tags

harvest, Huber Winery & Orchard, Ted Huber, Traminette, vineyards

Worker framed

A harvest worker reaches through the thick vines to grab this bunch of Indiana Traminette.

STARLIGHT, IN. – The Monday overcast morning wasn’t necessarily the idyllic setting many wine enthusiasts vision for fall harvest. There is this romantic notion of Napa-like sunny skies, smiles and the colors of fall and wine grapes.

All of that holds true, to an extent, in Southern Indiana but a day in the vineyard during harvest quickly brings the realization that harvest is hard work. It’s hectic, its difficult, and it’s rushed – because it has to be to make fine wine.

Ted Huber scooping out stems.

Ted Huber scooping out stems.

Ted Huber, Indiana’s largest vineyard owner, was kind enough to let me hang out today. I shot a ton of photos. Here is the album of more than 30 shots.

I’ve been telling people for a long time that you learn about great wine in the vineyard and not the winery. And it couldn’t possibly be more true than walk the vineyard during harvest then watch the fruit being delivered to the production facility.

All of the workers, along with Ted, were great  explaining the process and what they do during this incredibly busy time of the year.

I’m headed back up the hill to Huber’s Tuesday morning. This will be a shorter visit but they’re probably doing some bottling – something I’d like to see. Maybe buy some peaches or something!

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Grape Sense on Instagram

Have you met Karen? She works mid week mornings at the shop and is reminding everyone to join us for Saturday Sipps this weekend. We will be pouring the popular Auntsfield Sauv Blanc, another new Rose, and a Pinot noir from the Loire Valley! It all begins at 11 AM through the afternoon
Very mixed thoughts about an unplanned visit to Nonna’s Italian Italian in Plainfield just off I 70 from last night. Unexpectedly stuck in town for a couple of hours thought I would try it out it’s an odd set up where you have to order at the register. Calamari was great my salad was great the lasagna was good except for some odd white sauce top of the marinara which was delicious the white sauce was congealed and tasted bitter… The home-baked roll was delicious… The glass of Gabbiano Chianti was OK well I paid 1150 for a glass that sells for eight bucks … total bill $36 for those items which I thought was a little high mostly the wine cost. Service seem confused and disjointed but they were all very pleasant I’d probably give it a second chance not sure
Join Curt and I Saturday at the Wine Shop for Saturday Sipps. We will be pouring an unusual and delicious Austrian Rose, Italian Vermentino, and Sicilian red! Of course, all three 20 percent off Saturday only!
New coffee shop in Greenwood! Paul Jacquin, in photo, owner of Vino Villa has opened up Cafe Euclid in small house behind the wine shop and restaurant! Lovely patio for outdoor seating and good coffee!

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