It should come as no surprise to the readers of this that the Central Coast grape market is facing a challenging season. While the current market situation is primarily due to an oversupply of grapes and declining wine consumption, the effects of tariffs on some of our most valuable trade partners has only made the situation more challenging. These factors have led to a tough market for growers, with grape pricing falling sharply and many struggling to find buyers. Although late-season buyers have begun to enter the market during harvest, those buyers are generally paying below farming cost prices, and can select from multiple options for their limited needs. Unfortunately, we predict that many thousands of tons will be left unharvested.
Despite these challenges, the bulk wine market on the Central Coast is showing resilience as you can see in our Market Snapshot below. With a larger supply of potential buyers, trends towards just-in-time purchasing, and an increasingly strong private label market, bulk wine sales seem to continually show growth. Bozzano & Co. remains resolute in our belief that Paso Robles and the Central Coast continue to hold a strong position, where quality, value, and growing consumer interest set this region apart.
MARKET SNAPSHOT
Even with lower prices in the bulk market overall, our weighted average pricing for Bozzano bulk sales only dipped 9 cents year-over-year ($10.12 → $10.03). Here’s how current averages are shaping up:
- Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir: $11.80/gal
- Central Coast Chardonnay: $8.34/gal
- Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon: $8.23/gal
- Central Coast Grapes: $1785/ton
For growers who are wanting to crush unsold fruit, there are many custom crush opportunities in the area and we'd love to help be a resource. Please reach out and we'd be happy to give you some recommendations or answer any questions you may have. Cheers and happy harvesting.
