Forchini Winery Signage

On Dry Creek Road

Carla Club Members

Summer Solstice Dinner
 

Dateline February 15, 2010

Waiting For Spring
 Over the winter is a good time to reflect back on the past year, analyze what challenges you might face in the coming new year and how you plan to deal with them.   Here's what we know from reports in the media, trade journals and talk among the trade as we move forward:

  • Many growers in 2009 were forced to custom crush fruit they could not sell, let the fruit hang on the vine,  or sell at prices well below production costs.
  • Growers contracts for certain varieties were not being renewed after the 09 harvest.
  • Imported foreign wines sales were up 42%.
  • Consumer spending was down. Wine sales were strongest in the value range of $4.99-6.99/bottle.
  • Wineries were buying bulk import & domestic wines at bargain prices. Secondary brands at price points under $10/bottle were appearing in great numers.
  • Premium wineries were drastically cuting prices to reduce inventories.
  • Wholesale distributors were cutting back on orders.
  • Restaurant sales were slow.  Tasting Room traffic was down.

Couple these negative factors with a difficult economy,  high unemployment, budget deficits,  housing  foreclosures, under water mortgages and tight credit, one doesn't get a very rosy forecast for 2010 and you start to realize it could be a very challenging year. 

On the positive side as I drove past our old vine Zinfandel vineyard this morning I observed  vines that have survived 100 years of up/down markets, prohibition, drought & blight.  It gave me reassurance that if our predesessors could survive during tough times we certainly could endure this crisis.  Maybe it was time to go back to the future with new strategies and objectives.

Winegrowers are always optimistic by nature when a new vintage year is about to start and this year is no exception.  Spring is right around the corner and as a good omen  we have received 20" of rain the past month and have totaled 30" to date.   Be mindful that good wine & food is comforting and during difficult times this becomes even more important.  There remains a majority of employed consumers with disposable income and there are the affluent economically advantaged.  Both of these consumer types  enjoy fine wines and will continue to seek these wines albeit more selectively.  All is not doom & gloom, but I believe wineries will have to make certain changes to adjust to the marketplace.  What will be our objectives and strategy for 2010?

Our plan for the new year will be to not compromise on quality and to continue to produce fine  premium estate wines as we have in the past.   We will however be progressive in pricing and make adjustments based on our inventories, demand for product, and recommendations from our wholesale suppliers.   We are commited to maintaining and increasing our customer base in both retail and wholesale.   We will work to attract new wine club memberships as the best way for  customers to enjoy addditional savings, special offerings and other benefits.  Sounds like a New Year's Resolution and a lot of hard uphill work.  Wish us luck!


Winemaker Dinners

If you happen to be in the vicinity of Sacramento or Healdsburg on the following dates you might want to attend one of our winemaker dinners.  Owner/chefs Gonul Blum will offer a fabulous Mediterranean menu and Patrick Martin of Charcuterie will work wonders with French cuisine.  Both fix prix menus include different Forchini wines matched with each entree.
  • 2/24/20  -  Gonul's J St. Cafe, Sacramento, Ca.  $45
  • 4/28/10  -  Charcuterie Restaurant, Healdsburg, Ca.  $65

Go to our Special Event link for more information and reservations.

Winery News

We will bottle in April a 2009 Paradiso rose wine called Rosato - Tre Viti. It is made by co-fermenting three different grapes and is dry and fruity with flavors of cherry, apricot and mint.  It will be a perfect wine served chilled for outdoor spring/summer dining. Our last Paradiso was made in 2004.

We will also bottle this year our 2009 Chardonnay and all the 2008 wines although the 08 wines will not be released for a long time until we deplete existing inventories on the 06 & 07 vintages.  We still have good inventories on 06 Zinfandel and BeauSierra.  These wines are approaching four years in age  and are drinking beautifully.  They are a wonderful example of the suppleness and mouthfeel that comes with bottle aging.

Our 2007 Pinot Noir and 2008 Chardonnay were released in January this year.  I believe this 2009 Chardonnay is my best to date and the 07 Pinot is delicious with deep brick red color, firm structure and intense fruit flavors.

New Website Shopping Cart

We installed on February 1st a new secured shopping cart on our website purchasing link.  It is easier to use and has many additional features.  It shows quantity & club discounts as they are being applied to items and prompts customer of additional savings that can be had.  We have reduced prices on Zinfandel, BeauSierra, and Papa Nonno and we are currently offering two Special Case sales.  We have also reduced ground shipping rates and have flat fees based on quantity not ZIP code.  We are hoping that you will find this new cart conveinent and easy to use.

Tasting Room Video

If you would like a little insight to our winery you can view a short video by clicking the address below, then clicking on Forchini.  It has brief interviews with Anita, Andrew and me about our wines and vineyards.  Look out Hollywood here we come!

tastingroomers.com

Hope to see you soon at one of our special events or just a simple drop in tasting visit.   Bring a lunch and enjoy our outdoor gartdens, vineyards and views of Dry Creek while tasting  our wines.

Editor:  Jim Forchini