As harvest begins, it’s still uncertain where wine grape yields are going to finally going to fall.

“At this point, only the early varietals — whites and white zin — are in,” says Karen Ross, president of the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) in Sacramento, Calif. “Around the state, those yields appear to be consistently light compared to last year. It’s too early to tell on the reds since it has been a really mild summer and perfect ripening weather.”

“All of the directors on my board were surprised and did not agree with the state’s revised estimate that came out Aug. 12. That figure was increased from the July estimate and is higher than last year’s total.”

Prices are continuing to show strength as the market glut from 2005 continues to subside.

“The pricing is generally trending up,” Ross says. “There was more activity this spring, but it is quiet now.”