03/20/06 Wine Outlook

Wine Outlook for 2006. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Fruit Grower Report. Each year wine grape growers and vintners would give a month's wages to be able to gaze into a glass of wine and foresee what that years crop will being. Of course there are many variables and most out of their control. It seems Mother Nature always has to have her say. But according to Andy Perdue, editor of Wine Press Northwest magazine, Washington growing conditions are unique. PERDUE: The funny thing about grape growing in Washington is that it's pretty hard to have a bad year because of the grape growing conditions here. Washington is really blessed with great growing conditions that consistently year after year really kind of help the winemaker with great fruit. And while the area is pretty close to ideal, there are dangers. PERDUE: We're into one of those iffy times of year with the grape growers. I was out in a vineyard this morning and I was talking with the grower and I asked him how it was looking so far and he said well it got a little warm a couple of weeks ago and we got concerned that the buds might start pushing a little early. And Perdue adds that creating great wine is not an exact science. PERDUE: Every vintage is a learning experience for grape growers and winemakers so every year they are able to learn a little bit more about the irrigation practices, where to plant, what yeast to use with different grapes and how to treat those grapes once they get into the winery and how to treat the juice once it's squeezed out of the grapes. It's like a database. You pick up a little bit more every year, you learn a little more and frankly that helps every vintage be a little bit better. That's today's Fruit Grower Report, I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.