Richard Mounts, a Dry Creek Valley grape grower and president of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, said the market remains strong for wine grapes this year following the record statewide grape crop harvested last year. Mounts and other industry leaders said they believe there could be a slight softening in prices for some varietals, such as chardonnay, but that prices and demand are good for the leading red wine varietals on the North Coast. Rick Theis, executive director of the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association, said the market is hot for Sonoma County wines because of the growing recognition for the quality wines produced here. As long as the economy holds we will be in the catbird seat,'' said Theis. Agriculture continues as Sonoma County's most important and visible industry, giving the county its identity and setting the stage for the Wine Country lifestyle.
Agriculture is the linchpin to our economic future and success.
Agriculture sets the table for tourism and for the quality of life that brings the high-tech people here to establish their businesses,'' said Ben Stone, executive director of the Sonoma County Economic Development Board. Agriculture is one of the legs in the three-legged stool of the Sonoma County economy. In addition to ag, the three-legged stool includes tourism and technology,'' said Stone. Wine grape vineyards continue to expand, taking over land used for orchards and cow pastures. But sandwiched between the vineyards are the vegetable farms and other speciality crop producers that maintain Sonoma County's agricultural diversity.