San Diego’s wine industry generated $50 million in overall economic impact in 2017, a $19.6 million increase from 2016.
This according to a report by the San Diego County Vintners Association (SDCVA), an organization that supports the winemaking community in the county.
The 13-page report also states 115 wineries in San Diego County realized a 9.4 percent increase in gross sales, with more grapes being grown in the region than ever before. San Diego County is experiencing seven years of record growth in active winegrower licenses in the county, with 174 current winegrower licenses. Additionally, the total number of jobs in the wine industry increase in 2017 by 7.3 percent.
“Our winemakers work hard throughout the year to produce diverse, high-quality wines, many of them award-winning, to showcase that San Diego County is becoming an important region for California wine production,” said SDCVA President Ed Embly, owner of Hungry Hawk Vineyards in Escondido. “Many are unaware that San Diego County was the first county to produce wines in California… we are proud to see that the fruit of our labor is making a positive impact on the county’s economy.”
