01/27/06 Wine grape production and price up

Washington Ag January 27, 2006 Washington wine grape growers produced a bigger crop in 2005 than in 2004 and saw a better price. The Washington Agricultural Statistics Service reports that wine grape production in the state last year totaled 110-thousand tons, which while up three percent from 2004 was two percent less than two years ago. Agency statistician Linda Simpson has some other highlights of a report issued Thursday. Simpson: "Well we noticed that the percent of white Riesling is growing quite rapidly. It is up about 14% from last year and it is up about 23% from two years ago. Also strong are Chardonnay and Merlot. The price of all varieties gained a little bit. It is up about $5 from last year and the price per ton of the various other varieties is kind of mixed." Washington growers received an average of $930 per ton for all varieties in 2005. By the way that compares to $571 a ton for California, the number one wine grape producing state. Of the total wine grapes produced in Washington last year 53 percent were white and 47 percent were red varieties. The top three varieties accounted for 60 percent of total production with Chardonnay again in first followed by Merlot and then white Riesling. I'm Bob Hoff.