VININTELL November 2014, Issue 22 COUNTRY PROFILES USA NEW YORK STATE Country Profiles is an integral part of the South African wine industry’s business intelligence. Based on this, SAWIS has decided to compile, in collaboration with WOSA, a number of coun- try profiles to assist exporters. These profiles cover a wide range of topics, including back- ground to marketing thoughts and topics for strategic, tactical and operational decisionmaking. The comprehensive profile is available on the SAWIS website. CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 3 2. DEMOGRAPHICS .................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Geography ................................................................................................................................... 3 Area .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Terrain .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Natural resources ......................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 People and Society .................................................................................................................. 5 Ethnic groups ............................................................................................................................... 5 Languages ................................................................................................................................... 5 Religions ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Population .................................................................................................................................... 6 Literacy ........................................................................................................................................ 6 Urbanisation.. ............................................................................................................................... 6 Age structure ............................................................................................................................... 7 Internet users ............................................................................................................................... 8 Ports and terminals ...................................................................................................................... 8 3. ECONOMIC SITUATION ......................................................................................................... 8 Gross State Product (GSP) ......................................................................................................... 8 Inflation rate (consumer prices) .................................................................................................... 8 GSP – real growth rate ................................................................................................................ 9 4. AGRICULTURE ....................................................................................................................... 9 Land use ...................................................................................................................................... 9 5. THE WINE INDUSTRY .......................................................................................................... 10 5.1 Areas under vines ..................................................................................................................... 12 5.2 Production ................................................................................................................................. 13 5.3 Wine industry structure .............................................................................................................. 15 5.3.1 Wineries ........................................................................................................................... 15 5.3.2 Laws and regulations ...................................................................................................... 16 5.3.3 New York Wine Industry Association (NYWIA) ................................................................. 18 5.3.4 New York Wine and Grape Foundation ........................................................................... 18 5.4 Markets ..................................................................................................................................... 19 6 CONSUMERS ........................................................................................................................ 22 7. CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................... 23 2 1. INTRODUCTION gration in the history of the US. New York City New York State is in the North-eastern and exerts a significant impact upon global com- merce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States (US). technology, education, and entertainment. It is the 27th largest, the third-most populous, The home of the UN Headquarters, New York and the seventh-most densely populated of City is an important centre for international the 50 US States. The English took over of the diplomacy and has been described as the area that had been called New Netherland in cultural and financial capital of the world. New 1664, and renamed it New York to honour the York City alone makes up over 40% of the Duke of York (city in England). New York is population of New York State, while two- bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to thirds of the state’s population resides within the south and by Connecticut, Massa chu- the New York City Metropolitan Area, and setts, and Vermont to the east. The state has Long Island is home to nearly 40% of New a maritime border with Rhode Island east of York State’s population. Long Island, as well as an international border with the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the north and Ontario to the west and north. The 2. DEMOGRAPHICS state of New York is often referred to as New 2.1 Geography York State to distinguish it from New York City, its largest city. Area: 141,300 km² New York City, with a Census-estimated Climate: New York State is located between po pulation of over 8.4 million in 2013, is the the Atlantic coast and the US border with most populous city in the US and the nucleus Canada. Because of this zone’s cool, frost- of the premier gateway for legal immigration prone climate, most New York vineyards are to the US – the New York City Metropolitan located near the coast, next to rivers, or hud- Area, one of the most populous urban dled around the state’s various lakes. agglomerations in the world. New York City is Because of their vast thermal mass, large also known for being the location of Ellis bodies of water such as these reduce the Island, the largest historical gateway for immi- severity of winter frosts – a service without 3 which vines would not be able to survive here. Burgundy and Bordeaux. The spectacular Weather in New York is heavily influenced by Finger Lakes region, which physically resem- two continental air masses: a warm, humid bles wine country along the Rhine, produces one from the southwest and a cold, dry one Riesling wines rivalling the world’s best, as from the northwest. The winters are long and well as good sparkling wines and Cabernet cold in the Plateau Divisions of the state. In Franc. The maritime climate of eastern Long the majority of winter seasons, a temperature Island provides ideal conditions for Merlot and of - 25°C or lower can be expected in the other classic red varieties, as well as rich northern highlands (Northern Plateau) and Chardonnays. The Lake Erie and Hudson −15°C or colder in the south-western and River regions produce a wide range of wines east-central highlands (Southern Plateau). The from traditional European, French-American, summer climate is cool in the Adirondacks, and Native American grape varieties. Catskills and higher elevations of the Southern Like all farming operations, the business of Plateau. The New York City/Long Island area grape-growing and wine-making can be and lower portions of the Hudson Valley have severely affected by the weather. In March rather warm summers by comparison, with 2014, the US Department of Agriculture is­­ some periods of high, uncomfortable humid- sued a federal disaster declaration for many ity. The remainder of New York State enjoys upstate counties, making some wineries eligi- pleasantly warm summers, marred by only ble to receive loans and other aid to cope with occasional, brief intervals of sultry conditions. Summer daytime temperatures usually range damage caused by the unusually frigid and from 25°C to 30°C, over much of the state. prolonged winter. Water is abundant in New York and has Terrain: The Great Appalachian Valley domi- numerous small lakes and is crisscrossed by nates eastern New York and contains the Lake numerous rivers. In the context of quality Champlain Valley as its northern half and wine, the most important water bodies here the Hudson Valley as its southern half within are the lakes which dominate the