An Economic Snapshot of the Massachusetts Winery Industry
There are some 5,900 wineries in the United States, many of them gaining
national attention from wine lovers for the fine quality of their wine,
including 29 in the Bay State. They are producing grape and fruit wine,
almost tripling the number of wineries since 1994 when there were just
a dozen. Winery production and sales in the Bay State are expanding. Today,
Bay State wineries hand craft and bottle over 235,690 gallons of wine,
compared to 170,550 gallons just two years ago.
Over $7.79 million in sales were generated in 2007 from these 29 wineries. Direct sales to consumers represented approximately 71% of farm winery sales in Massachusetts. About 29% of the sales were wholesale, which are a part of the three-tier system of distribution in Massachusetts.
The four largest farm-wineries in Massachusetts represented some $5.6 million in sales, about 71% of the total. The remaining wineries represented 29% of the total sales with individual winery sales ranging from $18,000 to $300,000, with an average of $122,000.
Wineries preserve open space
Massachusetts farm wineries maintain open space and agricultural resources in the Commonwealth. Over 2,425 acres of open space are maintained with over 500 acres devoted exclusively to grape or fruit production to make wine. That compares to 1994 when wineries held 600 acres of open space.
Massachusetts wineries create jobs
Massachusetts wineries employ at least 178 individuals. There has been a shift in the number of employees from part-time to fulltime positions. As of 2007 there were 144 full time and 34 part time employees as compared to 90 full-time and 92 part-time in 1998. The first bonded winery in the state was Chicama Vineyards, founded in 1971. Unfortunately, they went out of business in 2008.
Summary
Year
|
2007
|
2005
|
1998
|
1994
|
|
Number of wineries
|
29 |
22 |
15 |
12 |
| Total Sales (millions) |
$7.80 |
$6.54 |
$3.92 |
$2.28 |
| Gallons produced |
237,690 |
170,550 |
104,000 |
96,000 |
| Total Acres |
2,425 |
1,862 |
700 |
600 |
| Acres for grapes/fruit |
500 |
478 |
114 |
|
| Employees |
178 |
182 |
|
|
| Full time vs. part time |
144 : 34 |
90 : 92 |
|
|
| Wholesale vs. Retail sales |
29% : 71% |
37% : 63% |
|
|
|
