Market amid a pivotal shift
California’s wine industry feels like it could be amid a pivotal shift as the bulk wine and grape markets transition from a prolonged fear of oversupply toward tentative concerns regarding future undersupply. Driven by some internal inventory rebalancing – assisted by three consecutive harvests below 3.0 million tons – overall market sentiment feels a little healthier than it did 12 months ago.
“There has been a firming up of some asking prices on specific bulk wines in specific areas,” states this month’s California Report. “Suppliers with right-sized inventories may be waiting to see if their remaining inventory is worth more now than it was prior to harvest.”
That said, caution continues to pervade day-to-day business, buyers are still hesitant to commit to supply, and pricing in general remains challenged. This month’s report details bulk-market activity by area and varietal: One area is enjoying “improved demand from buyers needing supply for brands,” while one varietal in particular has been the focus of demand.
The mood music around case-good sales is more positive, but do the cold hard statistics convey a clear trajectory? This month’s report assesses the latest SipSource wholesaler depletions data. With distributors running on leaner, just-in-time inventories, the traditionally important OND sales period feels more important than ever in determining bulk-wine demand – and perhaps, in turn, grape demand – in the opening months of the new year.
Our monthly bulk inventory charts by total gallons and by varietal are updated – how do this November’s figures compare to Novembers earlier in the rebalancing process? – and inventory is broken down by Coast versus Interior. The report also analyzes the much-awaited results of the California Association of Winegrape Growers’ recently-published 2026 California Winegrape Mapping Project, assessing how they line up with the regional distribution of the bulk inventory currently listed with us.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions you have: As always, the Ciatti team stands ready to draw on its many decades of combined wine industry experience to help and advise.
Read the full Ciatti California Report for November.
We encourage bulk-wine suppliers to register their new 2026-vintage wines with us and send in samples, so we can meet buyer need as soon as it arises. Please also register any 2025-vintage availability.
Grape suppliers are urged to register their potential 2027-vintage availability, enabling us to find buyers for the fruit as early as possible, providing some farming certainty moving into the new year.
Contact the Ciatti Customer Account Team at cargroup@ciatti.com.
Prospective buyers of 2027 grapes should reach out to our broker team by clicking the button below.
Buyers of 2025 and 2026 bulk wines are recommended to signal their needs so we can provide samples as soon as possible.