Napa Valley Floor Fruit

As for grape price - there is great variance here in California; depends on region, age of vines, varietal, quality of grape, and reputation of vineyard. I buy grapes at prices ranging from $.40 / pound to $.75 / pound; but prices go much higher for premium grapes from high reputation vineyards - usually not readily available in small lots to hobbyists. One other variable is 'who picks'. You might ask around at at the Napa Growers Assocation to find out what the market price range is.

I source grapes through my growing association (your neighbor might want to join the Napa growers association), and through local contacts. A possible place for your neighbor to start is Napa Fermentation Supplies in Napa.

I'm a couple hours away - but interested in a source of quality Cabernet Sauvignon from your neighborhood - let me know if your neighbor is interested in selling some more this year, and at what price.

I don't know if Peter Brehm is looking for suppliers but that is an option. He might buy all of the fruit.

Joe

Ric wrote:

I have done pick-your-own on the east coast and they run from $0.90 to $1.25. I have ordered grapes from California and pay from $1.00 to $1.25 / lb. I would think that he could sell them to home wine makers. Once he gets a client base it should be easy. But in the mean time he may need to do some advertising through local wine clubs or something.

Ray

Wow - a buck a pound? I live here in the Sierra foothills; besides my own vineyard, I buy grapes from a handful of commercial vineyards, and prices are typically $.50 to $.65 - with the occassional exception higher (for premium) and lower (for 'friends' grapes!). I can understand the CA grapes costing you that much because of the shipping - but local grapes costing that much? Ouch. that's $2,000 a ton.

Sounds like you'd better start planting that back acreage - there's gold in them thar hills!

Ric wrote: Ouch. that's $2,000 a ton.

Ric.. the going commercial rate for premium Napa Valley floor fruit, mature Cab vines is actually $ 4,000 a ton. I know a winemaker that is paying $10,000 a ton for Pinot fruit in Russian River, but she leases the vineyard and has full control. Drops fruit to 2 tons per acre and controls all aspects from canopy to picking and pays $ 20,000 per acre for that privelage. Drives a nice car, must be doing ok with it.

Rick

As I was told by a wise old man "it takes a big fortune to make a small fortune in the wine making business".

I thought he was pretty smart. haha

Yea, but that's premium fruit to commercial wineries, not readily avalaible to us hobbyists. As I said in my earlier post, there are plenty of higher prices for the super premium fruit from the top vineyards. But that isn;t really the market for grapes that most hobbyists buy. Last year, I purchased

I can get Zin from pretty old (30 year plus) vines in Amador County for $.75 a pound. You can get links to these growers on the sites of any of the grape growing or winemaker associations (SGGA, Amador winemakers, Sacramento winemakers, Napa growers, etc).

The point is - this guy with the Calistoga vineyard does indeed have a market in the 'hobbyist' winemaking community. there are lots of us out here. Prices are determined by the variables I mentioned. If these are older vines, in a premium location, well managed - then he can get some higher prices. Otherwise, I think my price range is about accurate.