California | October 17, 2017

Wildfires Impact on $57B California Wine Industry

The California wine industry contributes roughly $57 billion to the state’s economy, and the roughly 200,000 acres that have burned in Napa, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties presents a significant rebuilding challenge. Roughly 85% of the grapes had already been harvested for this year’s crop when the fires broke out. What remained on the vine were mostly cabernet grapes, which UC Davis estimated could be worth $175 million.

While much of what burned was wild land, some 2,800 homes were burned in Santa Rosa. But since roughly 70% of California’s grapes come from the Central Valley, experts at UC Davis’ Agricultural Issues Center say the industry impact will be minimized. Just 10% of Napa and Sonoma counties are planted with grapes.

It likely won’t be until next spring to really know the heat damage to the vines, and another five or more years for grapes on any vines needing to be replaced to show up in wine-making.

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About Dennis Kaiser

Dennis Kaiser is Vice President of Content and Public Relations for Connect Commercial Real Estate. Dennis is a communications leader with more than 30 years of experience including as a journalist and in corporate and agency marketing communications roles. He is responsible for Connect’s client content operations and is involved in a range of initiatives ranging from content strategy, message development, copywriting, media relations, social media and content marketing services. In his most recent corporate communications roles, he led a regional public relations effort across Southern California for CBRE, played a key marketing role on JLL’s national retail team, and was responsible for directing the global public relations effort at ValleyCrest, the nation’s largest commercial landscape services company. In addition to his vast commercial real estate experience, Dennis has worked on communications and launch strategies for a number of residential projects such as Disney’s Celebration in Florida, Ritter Ranch in Palmdale California (7,200 homes, 22,000 acres), WaterColor in Florida and PremierGarage in Phoenix. Dennis’s agency background included firms such as Idea Hall and Macy + Associates. He has earned an outstanding reputation with organization leaders as a trusted advisor, strategic program implementer, consensus builder and exceptional collaborator. Dennis has developed and managed national communications programs for Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, both public and private. He’s successfully worked with journalists across the globe representing clients involved in major-breaking news stories, product launches, media tours, and company news announcements. Dennis has been involved in a host of charitable and community organizations including the American Cancer Society, Easter Seals, BoyScouts, Chrysalis Foundation, Freedom For Life, HOLA, L.A.’s BEST, Reach Out and Read, Super Bowl Host Committee, and Thunderbirds Charities.

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