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Final 2024 California Grape Crush, Not Quite as Small as Projected

Final 2024 California Grape Crush, Not Quite as Small as Projected

 

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CDFA recently released their Final 2024 California Grape Crush Report, totaling 2,961,433 tons, down 24.1% from the 2023 crush of 3,899,631 tons. The final report reflects a 43,275 ton increase from the preliminary report released last month, which still represents a historic, significant decline compared with the last 20 years of harvests in California. Red wine varieties accounted for the largest share of all grapes crushed, at 1,466,346 tons, down 25.7% from 2023. White wine varieties crushed totaled 1,417,993 tons, down 17.2% from 2023. Tons crushed of raisin type varieties totaled 23,630, down 51.7% from 2023, and tons crushed of table type varieties totaled 53,463, down 67.8% from 2023. For a full analysis of the report, view a recording of American Vineyard Live webcast featuring Turrentine Brokerage HERE.

The Grape Crush Report includes the total number of tons crushed for concentrate production. In determining grape tonnage crushed for concentrate production, each processor was required to report the estimated equivalent tons of grapes crushed for grape concentrate. For the 2024 season, this total was 270,519 tons, 9.1% of the 2024 grape crush total. This report provides only the aggregate figure for grapes crushed for concentrate production and does not include information by district, type, or variety.

The 2024 average price of all varieties was $1,009.60, down 2.9% from 2023. Average prices for the 2024 crop by type were as follows: red wine grapes, $1,335.93, down 0.7% from 2023; white wine grapes, $706.84, down 3.6% from 2023; raisin grapes, $296.41, up 2.9% from 2023; and table grapes, $150.65, down 22.5% from 2023.

LEADING GRAPE VARIETIES AND DISTRICTS

In 2024, Chardonnay continued to account for the largest percentage of the total tonnage crushed at 17.8%. Cabernet Sauvignon accounted for the second largest percentage of the total crush at 15.4%. Raisin grape varieties crushed for wine accounted for 0.8% of the total crush and table varieties crushed for wine were 1.8% of the total crush.

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District 13 (Madera, Fresno, Alpine, Mono, Inyo Counties; and Kings and Tulare Counties north of Nevada Avenue (Avenue 192)), had the largest share of the State’s crush at 907,220 tons. The average price per ton in District 13 was $338.64.

Grapes produced in District 4 (Napa County) received the highest average price at $6,938.96 per ton, down 1.3% from 2023. District 3 (Sonoma and Marin counties) received the second highest average price at $2,927.18 per ton, down 1.8% from 2023.

The 2024 Chardonnay average price of $1,056.63 was down 1.4% from 2023 and the Cabernet Sauvignon average price of $2,181.93 was up 2.7% from 2023. The 2024 average price for French Colombard was $306.60, down 3.7% from 2023, while the Pinot Noir average price was up 1.6% from 2023, at $1,728.36 per ton.

The Final Grape Crush Report includes all grape tonnage crushed during the 2024 season. It also includes purchased tonnage and pricing information for grapes with final prices prior to January 10, 2025. View the full crush report HERE.