Calwineries

Napa Agriculture Drops 13% in 2006

In 2006, the total value of Napa agriculture dropped to $477.7 million from $548.6 million in 2005, a 13% decrease. It is important to realize though, that 2005 was an unusually large and lucrative winegrape harvest. Winegrape sales were valued at $469.1 million in 2006, down from about $540 million in the previous year.

Cabernet Sauvignon made up 49.3% of all vineyard acreage, but only 36.7% of total grape tonnage. This is partly explained by the fact that Cabernet Sauvignon dominates most mountain sites in Napa, where yields are usually lower than the valley floor. Cab sold for an average of $4,126 per ton.

Pound for pound, Roussanne was a much more expensive grape than Cabernet Sauvignon, and sold for an average of $6,500 per ton. But this grape is quite rare in the valley, and it did not make up a large percentage of overall sales. Merlot bounced back a bit after its post-Sideways slump, selling for an average of $2,691 per ton, and reclaiming its second place position from Chardonnay.

Winegrape sales accounted for 98% of all Napa Valley agriculture in 2006. Other products in the report include floral and nursery crops ($3,556,800), livestock ($3,210,300), poultry and other animal products ($488,500), field crops ($286,300), vegetable crops ($256,200), and timber ($21,200).