"Analogueman" > wrote in message news:<Q4fVb.10059$QX4.8827@clgrps13>...
> Michael;
> Do you have an idea, approximateley, what one would expect to pay for half a
> ton of quality California Cab or Merlot ?
>
> I am currently buying M&R, Lodi, grapes from dealers in Vancouver, Canada -
> often low SG and hi acid.
>
> Depending on price/quailty it might be worthwhile driving down ...
>

Most winegrowers that have cold storage and are set up to sell their
grapes via bin or lugs will sell you a minimum of one skid worth
(42luggs/skid). I strongly suggest buying lugs instead of bins; the
grapes get crushed in the bottom of the bins. Call any refrigerated
transport company and they will pick up and deliver. We received
grapes here in Florida from all over the west coast all the way up to
Washington Sate this year. We roughly took in about 8 trailers worth.
It started with a couple of friends wanting "real" grapes, to trying
to make a few bucks on doing the project.

Next fall I will just do it with a couple of friends. We made good
money but it was not worth all the hassle. I was really amazed on the
high quality of the grapes shipped us. I don't think I found a single
leaf in any of the lugs I did. Proving the point that the growers
really did a super job on their end. The longest shipment was for some
Pinot Noir out of Washington State that took 7 days to arrive.

SG Brix