SAN DIEGO – San Diego County winery sales saw a 19% increase last year over 2020, but sales have not yet rebounded to a pre-pandemic high, according to a report released Wednesday by the San Diego County Vintners Association.
“Like other industries, the county’s wine industry has been challenged the last few years. But this report demonstrates the resiliency of wineries and the interest in winemaking in our region with a 6% increase in winery openings in 2021,” said Ray Schnorr, Vintners Association president and co-owner of Highland Valley Vineyards in Escondido.
According to the report, 1,370 acres of vines were harvested in the region last year, producing 3,073 tons of wine grapes with a production value of $5.2 million. These figures are down from pre-pandemic 2019 when county vineyards harvested 3,596 tons of wine grapes, worth $5.58 million, with a sales price of $1,552 per ton, a record amount in the region. The report found 81% of growers reported excellent to good harvest quality, the strongest since 2016.
At least a sign of something I guess.