First, economics will dictate that there is an opportunity cost associated
with decisions of this type.

Therefore eventually if a 50 acre plot of land for a winery in Rutherford is
producing 15000 cases of premium wine and a annual profit of $2M.

An offer comes to sell land to a developer where the after tax proceeds can
be invested and they can make $3M virtually risk free.....

Many a non corporate winery would have to think of that type of
decision.---The opportunity cost.

Finally, I do think that premium wines from Napa will climb due to the
valuable land costs. But perhaps wineries will open and become more
recognized in other areas.....Washington State etc.







"Daisy" > wrote in message
...
> Wine experts in the Southern Hemisphere seem to think that mid-quality
> US wines are more expensive than elsewhere. Personally I have found
> local ly produced mid-range wines purchased in the US more expensive
> than I am used to, but I put this down to what I perceived as a
> propensity for Americans to drink spirits and/or beer.
>
> Now I find some international wine critics say that the high cost of
> grape-producing land in suitable areas, plus the high cost of setting
> up wineries in the USA is the problem.
>
> Does anyone know if these views have any value? I have had very
> acceptable chardonnay from the Napa in the USA frequently, but have
> personally found it about double the price of the same quality New
> Zealand or Australian chardonnay.
>
>
> Daisy
>
> Carthage demands an explanation for this insolence!