The warm weather of this summer has been a winemaker's dream. The lack of rain means grapes this year are smaller by about 20 percent. Wine gets its flavor from the skin, so less juice means more concentrated richer flavors. But smaller grapes also mean fewer bottles. Grape clusters that produced 80,000 cases for Pindar in 1998 are expected to only yield around 65,000 cases in 1999.
Less wine means higher prices.
Wine specialists Steve Mutkoski said he expects Long Island wine prices to go up. There is a downside to the drought. The vines have been stressed and fatigued because they are working harder and are dehydrated. The stress could affect the quality and quantity of the grapes grown next year. For now, as the red grapes turn deep purple and the green grapes, golden, winemakers are focused on the end of summer.