California Wine Grape Growers Set Harvest, Price Records

SACRAMENTO (CBS/AP) -- California vintners have something to celebrate. Both the tonnage of grapes harvested and the prices recorded for them set records in 2012.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released preliminary figures Friday showing that California's crush last year was a record high 4.3 million tons. Red wine grapes accounted for the largest share at 2.3 million tons, up nearly 20 percent from 2011.

The average price growers received for grapes across the state was up nearly 25 percent to $734 a ton. But premium wine grapes grown in Napa County were a lot more valuable, averaging $3,578 a ton.

Prices for chardonnay averaged $846 a ton, up 12 percent from 2012.

The average price for cabernet sauvignon rose nearly 20 percent to $1,376 a ton, 5 percent better than last year.

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