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The third Drink Local Wine session was led by Richard Mauro, Colorado Springs Gazette. The three panelists included Chris Anthony, professional skier; Jennifer Broome, Morning Meteorologist KDVR-TV and host of “Swept Away with Jennifer Broome”; and Jay Leeuwenberg, former NFL player. Richard Mauro began the session on consumer perceptions. He introduced the panel of wine consumers.
The panelists were asked to think about going into a restaurant and deciding what wine to drink. Jay said he would look for a wine depending on what he wants to drink. He doesn’t specifically look for a Colorado wine and he is seldom offered a Colorado wine. Jay does like to try new wines. Jennifer is a California Cab drinker that grew up in Texas. She does like new experiences and likes to step out of the box and try Colorado wine. Chris was impacted by the wines in Italy. In Italy the wines are regional with a story. He hopes that Colorado can become what Italy is when it comes to passion and a story about wine.
Richard then asked what the panel would think about when going into a wine shop. Jennifer seeks out knowledgeable people in wine shops. Jennifer mentioned that Colorado is a patio state. People like to eat outside and have a connection to the local movement. Jay mentioned that it was difficult for him to get into Colorado wines because he doesn’t know the stories associated with Colorado wines. He usually goes into a liquor store and asks them what they like.
Richard asked what the panelists think of when they think of Colorado wines. Chris said he was in awe that Colorado even had wines. He suggests that the industry should tell their story and get the Colorado wine knowledge out there.
In a message to the wine industry, Jay suggested that Colorado needs to make wine so that the consumer will have a good experience. Jennifer suggested that wineries need to get on the social media wagon. Social media opens up the world and wineries need to play in the social world. Chris wants to see Colorado winemakers embrace what they have and not try to be like someone or somewhere else. Chris and Jennifer suggested that the Colorado wine regions need to be marketed in a way that consumers can understand.
Cheers,
Terry
Report on the Cost of Establishing a Vineyard in Napa Valley
A recent study by the University of California Cooperative Extension analyzes the costs of establishing a vineyard and producing wine grapes. The document, “Sample Costs to Establish a Vineyard and Produce Winegrapes,” focuses on Cabernet Sauvignon. The 19-page document explains that this is a hypothetical farm with 35 acres of which 30 are wine grapes. Some of the acreage is being replanted. The first several pages of the report are very detailed but for those who want a brief look at the cost of vineyards, the final pages of the report show a detailed list of what many vineyards require. Table 1 provides the “Costs per acre to establish a vineyard.” More tables become more detailed. For anyone who is entertaining the thought of starting his or her own vineyard, this report provides a good sense of what grape growing entails.
It provides an informative look at some of the inherent costs of producing wine in a renowned wine region such as Napa Valley. Just the cost of creating a vineyard in Napa Valley is significant. We’ve met numerous winemakers who decided that purchasing land in Napa Valley and planting a vineyard are too costly. These same winemakers decided to plant vineyards and develop a winery in lesser-known areas of the United States and appear to be successful.
For wine lovers who think wine is too expensive, this report provides common sense to why wines are the prices they are. For the small winery and vineyard owners who are pursuing winemaking for the love of it or as a “hobby” it can be very costly. Keep that in mind and when visiting a winery, consider buying a bottle of your favorite wine.
Cheers! Kathy