Viticulture and Enology Research Program

Areas of Activity

Economics of Grape and Wine Production

The costs of establishing and running a vineyard and/or a winery are key issues to those in the industry. With this in mind, the UA Grape and Wine research program has periodically undertaken studies to determine the costs involved in producing grapes, juice, and wine in Arkansas. The purposes of this research are to:

Provide cost information to growers, wineries, and processors considering a new wine or juice grape enterprise or expanding an existing enterprise.
Provide background on the economic situation facing grape producers in Arkansas.
Communicate best practices specific to Arkansas climatic conditions for selected varieties of wine or juice grapes.

Data provided by this research is useful in planning and forecasting potential costs, yields, and revenues from vineyards and wineries. They are intended to serve as guides for investments in vineyards where the grapes produced are intended for use in the juice and wine processing segments of the Arkansas Agricultural industry.

Publications

Articles with titles that are underlined can be viewed online and, if desired, printed.
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Bates, T. and J. Morris. 2009. Mechanical cane pruning and crop adjustment decreases labor costs and maintains fruit quality in New York 'Concord' grape production. HortTech. 19:247-253.

Thomsen, M. and Morris, J. 2007. Economics of mechanizing pre-harvest vineyard operations. Wine East Buyers' Guide. p. 6.

Noguera, E., Morris, J., Striegler, K., and Thomsen, M. 2005. Production budgets for Arkansas wine and juice grapes. Ark. Agric. Exp. Stat. Pub. #976.

Noguera, E., Morris, J., Striegler, K., and Thomsen, M. 2005. Update on vineyard economics in Arkansas. Wine East Buyers' Guide. p. 12.

Dillon, C.R., Neff, D.L., Price, C., and Morris, J.R. 1997. The French Paradox and increased winery profitability. Wine East. 24(5):14.

Morris, J.R. 1997. The wine and juice industry in Arkansas. Amer. Wine Soc. J. 29(3):94.

Dillon, C.R., Neff, D.L., Price, C., and Morris, J.R. 1997. Wine and juice management and marketing decisions: The Case of the French Paradox. Southern Bus. Econ. J. 20(2):130.

Dillon, C.R., Price, C., and Morris, J.R. 1996. The impact of input costs on winery profits. Wine East Buyers' Guide 24(3):6.

McCollum, S.M., Price, C., and Morris, J.R. 1996. Cost of producing grapes for wine and juice processing in Arkansas - 1995. Ark. Exp. Stat. Spec. Report. #173. (522KB)

Dillon, C.R., Morris, J.R., Price, C., and Metz, D. 1994. The technological and economic framework of wine and juice production in Arkansas. Ark. Agri. Exp. Sta. Bull. #941. (226KB)

Dillon, C.R., Morris, J.R., and Price, C. 1994. Pricing strategy for wine in today's marketplace. Wines and Vines. 75(3):32.

Dillon, C.R., Price, C., Morris, J.R., and Ward, D. 1994. An appraisal of the economic feasibility of wine and juice production in Arkansas. Ark. Exp. Sta. Bull. #942. (716KB)

Dillon, C.R., Price, C., and Morris, J.R. 1993. Economic analysis of winery business operations. Ark. Farm Res. 42(2). (42KB)

Dillon, C.R., Morris, J.R., and Price, C. 1993. Effects of grape and other raw material prices on winery profitability. Proc. Ark. Hort. Soc. 114^th Ann. Mtg. (73KB)

Dillon, C.R., Morris, J.R., and Price, C. 1993. Making money by making wine: East coast and eastern comparisons. Vineyard and Winery Management. 2:37.

Dillon, C.R., Price, C., and Morris, J. 1993. Juice production economics in small to medium sized wineries. Ark. Farm Res. 42(5). (72KB)

Price, C., Danforth, M., Morris, J.R., and Banks, S. 1993. Market development for blueberry juice blends. Ark. Farm Res. 42(3). (41KB)

Price, C., Dillon, C.R., Morris, J.R., and Metz, D. 1993. Equipment costs for small-sized to medium-sized wineries. Wine East Buyers' Guide. p. 4.

Morris, J.R. and Striegler, K. 1993. Grape juice: Factors that influence quality, processing technology and economics. Chapt. 7, Hort. Review. p. 328.

Dillon, C.R., Morris, J.R. and Price, C. 1992. Adding a juice line to a winery. Wine East 20(1):8.

Dillon, C.R., Morris, J.R., Price, C., Ward, D., and Metz, D. 1992. Economic considerations for small-sized to medium-sized wineries. Wine East Buyers' Guide. p. 6.

Morris, J.R. and Price, C. 1991. Production and economics of wine grapes in Arkansas. Proc. FL Grape Growers' Assoc. Oct. 25-26. p. 156. (105KB)

Price, C. and Morris, J.R. 1991. Sales of Concord grapes as table grapes to compliment profits from a traditional processing grape. Proc. of FL Grape Grower's Assoc. Oct. 25-26. p. 84. (76KB)

Price, C. and Morris, J.R. 1990. Marketing juice from Arkansas seedless table grapes. Proc. 111th Ann. Mtg. Ark. Hort. Soc. p.91. (106KB)

Price, C., Morris, J.R., and Kirchner, D.A. 1989. An Arkansas study forecasts costs and ROI on southcentral vineyards. Vineyard and Winery Management, July/August, p. 32.

Kirchner, D.A., Price, C., and Morris, J.R. 1988. Economic analysis of wine grape production in Arkansas-1987. Ark. Agri. Exp. Sta. Spec. Rept. #130. (1,799KB)

Price, C., Morris, J.R. and Kirchner, D.A. 1988. Concord grape marketing options. Ark. Farm Res. 37(5):13. (35KB)

Kirchner, D.A., Price, C and Morris, J.R. 1987. Economic analysis of commercial grape production in Northwest Arkansas. Ark. Farm Res. 36(5):8. (52KB)

Price, C., Kirchner, D.A. and Morris, J.R. 1987. Budgets for costs of establishing and operating juice and wine grape vineyards. Proc. Ark. Hort. Soc. 108^th Ann. Mtg. p. 66. (34KB)

Price, C., Morris, J.R., and Kirchner, D.A. 1985. Arkansas budgets reflect increased profits for Concord juice grapes. Fruit South 9(2):7. (43KB)