KELSEYVILLE – Lake County winegrape quantities were down in 2008; however, prices garnered by most growers were on the rise, according to a preliminary crush report released last week by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

Tonnage production was down by approximately 23 percent compared to the total winegrapes produced in 2007, yet the majority of the county’s varietals averaged higher prices per ton compared to the prior year, the report revealed.

“The loss of more than 9,000 tons of winegrapes between 2007 and 2008 is nearly completely due to an unprecedented cold frost that hit all of the North Coast grape growing region at a critical time last year,” said Lake County Winegrape Commission Executive Director Shannon Gunier.

Lake County’s total winegrape tonnage of 27,917 for 2008 is a 23.1-percent decrease from the 2007 total of 36,321 tons, CDFA statistics show.

According to local grower John Roumiguiere, many regions within Lake County experienced a “convection frost” last spring.

The unusual weather pattern is a “still air frost” as opposed to a “frontal frost” that usually occurs before or after a storm, he said.

With temperatures dropping to 25 degrees, the frost was especially harsh to the county’s high elevation vineyards that do not have, nor usually need, frost protection, explained Roumiguiere.

The good news emerging from the CDFA report, said Gunier, is that Lake County winegrape prices continue to rise.

Overall, average prices in 2008 were up by 2 percent from the previous year for the county, with an average of $1,241 per ton, the preliminary CDFA figures indicated.

“While businesses and industries, including agriculture, continue to face economic challenges, Lake County is positioned well in the premium wine market and will continue to do well as wineries look to Lake County for quality wine grapes,” said Gunier. “We believe the numbers released Tuesday indicate good things for Lake County winegrape growers.”

Among the crops, Chardonnay was hit the hardest, both in quantity and value, according to the CDFA preliminary report.

Production of Chardonnay grapes totaled 794 tons, down 60 percent from the prior year. In addition, the average price per ton – at $1,010 for 2008 – declined 24 percent, making Chardonnay the only major varietal grown in Lake County to suffer a decrease in average price per ton.

The CDFA statistics indicated Sauvignon Blanc in Lake County totaled 8,741 tons (down 15 percent from 2007) and increased slightly (3.6 percent) to $915 in average price per ton.

Cabernet Sauvignon growers earned $1,436 per ton, up 2.5 percent, and produced 10,330 tons, down nearly 25 percent.

For Merlot growers, the average price per ton increased more than 12 percent to $877 per ton; but tonnage was down approximately 24 percent to 1,245 tons.

Production of Syrah grapes dipped 26.5 percent (876 tons for the year); yet Syrah growers saw a rise of 11.5 percent for average price of $1,348 per ton.

At 1,997 tons of Zinfandel grapes for 2008, the varietal tonnage decreased by more than 18 percent while the price per ton increased to an average of $1,280, a 6.5 percent improvement in value.

Although the CDFA is preliminary, it is a good indicator of last year’s winegrape crop results, said Gunier.

Statistics have shown a steady increase in price for Lake County’s white winegrapes since 2003. The 2007 average price for whites was $1,141 per ton. Red varietal prices have fluctuated the past several years, with a high average of $1,539 in 2002. The average for reds in 2007 was $1,384 per ton.

For additional information about Lake County’s winegrape production, visit the Lake County Winegrape Commission Web site, www.lakecountywinegrape.org.

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