Harvest fairly smooth; bulk activity ticks up

California’s 2025 winegrape harvest is moving into its latter stages. Timing, particularly in Coastal areas, is at the later end of normal parameters due to an accumulation of minor weather events, including a three-week stretch of lower-than-normal temperatures through July which August and September were not warm enough to offset, and rain around in some areas in recent weeks.

The presence of precipitation has raised concerns regarding the welfare of any white and thin-skinned varieties still hanging, and – depending on October weather – maybe also the later-season reds. In general, however, things have been running fairly smoothly. This month’s report assesses harvest timing and tonnage performance in each region, grape quality, and provides an update on our state-wide harvest estimate.

Numerous commentators have issued total tonnage predictions in recent weeks. The only certainty is that, for the third consecutive year, the removal and mothballing of vineyards has been by far the most significant regulator of the tonnage crossing the scales. The grape market has remained slow all year: This month’s report identifies where recent grape activity has been occurring, on what varieties, and at what pricing.

Bulk wine activity was slightly better through September and early October versus August. The report examines where this activity has been coming from, what it may signal, and carries our updated bulk inventory charts by volume and by varietal. Relatedly, the latest bulletin from our friends at Saxco examines the “uncertain mood of the American shopper”, which is “shaping cart sizes and channel choices”.

Paying subscribers can read the full Ciatti California Report for September on Substack.

If you are not yet a paying subscriber and would like access to the full report, including –

• actionable bulk wine and grape market intelligence;

• the latest bulk inventory charts by volume and by varietal;

• the Ciatti Bulk/Grape Market Barometer;

• updates on vineyard conditions and harvest;

• SipSource data on US wholesaler depletions;

• Saxco beverage packaging update;

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