San Diego winemakers could have record year

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — After seeing gross sales drop through the peak of the pandemic, San Diego County’s wine trade could possibly be in for a document 12 months.

A brand new report from the San Diego County Vintners Affiliation says in 2021, county winemakers made $44.1 million price of gross sales. That represents a virtually full rebound from the $37.1 million in gross sales in 2020, which made for a 20 % drop off from a document 2019, when gross sales have been $46.2 million.

Ray Schnorr, proprietor of Escondido’s Highland Valley Vineyards and president of the Vintners Affiliation, mentioned to date 2022 is on tempo to set a brand new document.

“When you drop out the pandemic and have a look at the general pattern, it is persistently been going up, and that is as a result of variety of new wineries which were opening,” he mentioned, noting there are actually 160 wineries within the county.

Nonetheless, native winemakers are actually coping with inflation at ranges not seen in 40 years.

“The corks, the capsules and the labels are all perhaps 5 to 10 % greater than final 12 months, however the glass is 50 % greater, and all the trade proper now’s feeling that,” Schnorr mentioned. “So you are going to see some pressures on pricing.”

The report from the affiliation additionally says like many fields, wineries are struggling to retain and appeal to staff. As such, Schnorr mentioned many are actually hiring.