2026 HARVEST UPDATE: NEARING THE END OF Q3
With the 2026 harvest well underway, it's proving to be a fast-moving one across the board. Some producers report they're nearly finished bringing in their whites, with others already reporting wrapping up picking altogether - a clear sign of just how early this harvest began.
As the harvest winds its way through the earlier parts of California, we are hearing about regions picking out lighter than expected, and starting to see some larger buyers put more focus on the Central Coast region. While larger volumes of whites did sell just in time for harvest, the red market is still largely in oversupply. Buyers are still able to source for most of their needs at considerably low prices. When they do purchase, they often gravitate to vineyard sites that are perceived to be higher quality, and are often younger vineyards that employ more cultural practices.
Although harvest has taken priority as producers focus on bringing in fruit, buyers are still actively seeking bulk wine. Whether because of shatter, clusters not sizing up, or concerns about smoke taint from the fires in Big Sur, some wineries have returned to the bulk market to make up for shortfalls in their own supply.
Within the spot bulk market, the North Coast dominated sales this past month, with comparatively less movement in Paso Robles and Central Coast regions. Regardless, August 2026 saw a year-over-year increase of more than 20,000 gallons moved compared to August 2025. Volume sold also increased by more than 36,000 gallons compared to July 2026 - driven primarily by larger sales rather than an increase in the number of transactions.
There is a really interesting dichotomy in the bulk wine market right now. The floor has risen slightly around whites, which wineries largely perceive to be in balance. Whereas dry white could be purchased last year at $1 per gallon (or less), today it is tough to find wines in that category at less than $4 per gallon. Meanwhile, Napa Cab, which sold for well in excess of $20 per gallon only a few years ago can now be purchased at prices as low as $7.50 per gallon. Never would we have guessed that the delta between CA dry white and Napa Cab would be within $4 of one another.
With only a few weeks left in Q3, we are shifting our attention towards Q4 and the post-harvest bulk wine market. It does feel like the usable supply of bulk wine has constricted significantly, and that actual volumes of available 2025 and 2026 wines will be significantly lower than previous vintages. We believe that buyers will need to begin competing to fill their needs within certain categories of bulk wine, including bright whites (especially those with sustainable certifications). And if growers and processors do not speculatively produce bulk wine from 2026, negociants and bulk wine buyers that have been able to purchase bulk at opportunistic prices over the last few vintages may have trouble securing wines to fit their competitive price points.
As harvest continues to move quickly, we'll keep tracking how it's shaping the bulk market in the weeks ahead. As always, don't hesitate to reach out if you're navigating any buying or selling needs this season. We'll see you on the other side!
