Marques Vickers

Five harvest seasons have passed since author Marques Vickers last edition of So You Think You Know Pacific Coast Wines? The transition from an annual update offers a clearer perspective on the status and health of the Pacific Coast wine industry. The changes offer a cautionary narrative since the peak production year of 2018. The Covid-19 pandemic, regional wild fires and an accumulating glut of unsold inventory have created perilous consequences within the industry.
California, Oregon and Washington growers are facing unprecedented challenges from unique sources. Compounding these trials has been a reduction in consumer purchasing and consumption levels, foreign competition, tariff uncertainties, inflation, and a younger generational shift away from traditional varietal wines. These changes appear more long-term than simply cyclical. This edition documents the shift in harvest production along with corresponding pricing fluctuations and the rise and decline of specific wine grapes. The past five years have undergone a significant decline in production levels and a glimpse into an industry with a very uncertain future.
This edition is designed to simplify your understanding by identifying growing trends, grape descriptions, the histories and future direction of the California, Washington and Oregon wine industry. It concisely profiles each state's leading growing regions, rainfall statistics and prominent grapes based on the most recent available harvest data. Some basic facts:California is the largest American state for wine production with Washington second and Oregon fourth.
Washington harvest is only 4% and Oregon 3.5% in comparison. California has 4, 800 wines, Washington and Oregon slightly over 1, 000 wineries respectively. All three states have suffered significant production declines over the past five years. Chardonnay remains California's largest harvested grape and Cabernet Sauvignon is Washington's largest and California's second largest. Cabernet Sauvignon is the highest priced grape in Washington and second highest in California.
Pinot Noir is Oregon's premier production grape. The projections are based on current harvest statistical data supplied by the California and Washington Department of Food and Agriculture and the University of Oregon. The concise book is ideal for wine collectors, winemakers and anyone who appreciates a world class Pacific Coast grown vintage.