Survey says Oregon wine production is up

MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – A survey of the state’s top wineries suggests that Oregon’s production in 2009 is likely to top that of 2008 by a good margin.

The McMinnville News-Register reported that grape tonnage was down in 2008 from the year before by 11 percent.

The newspaper says an Oregon Wine Press survey of the state’s 20 largest wine production facilities showed their 2009 production, as measured in cases, running well ahead of 2008’s figures.

The 2009 figure was more than 1.5 million cases as compared with nearly 1.2 million the year before.

The News-Register says the National Agricultural Statistics Service will release its annual report in late February.