South Plains Winery Faced Early Harvest and Slower Sales

English Newsom Cellars faced difficult growing conditions alongside weaker alcohol sales this year.

Owner Steve Newsom said dry weather and late rain moved the grape harvest into September instead of its usual October timing. He described the season as challenging throughout.

“It felt like every turn we had, we had the weather that we wish would have gone a different direction,” Newsom said.

He also said declining alcohol consumption affected revenue. Newsom cited industry accounts of sales being down as much as 20%, but that figure was not presented as a verified percentage decline for his own winery.

The business grows grapes and produces its wine on the South Plains. Newsom said family farms had invested heavily in vineyards and were confronting changing demand while maintaining quality.

His account brings together 2 pressures on a local agricultural business: weather that changes the production calendar and customers’ changing purchases.

The update did not give a financial loss total.

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Photo Via KCBD