(Decanter) - Winemakers in California are hailing the 2012 harvest as ‘outstanding’, with early estimates suggesting it could be a near-record crop at 3.7m tons. That’s about 12% up on last year’s small harvest and comes in sharp contrast with trends on the other side of the Atlantic, where poor weather has led to an historically small crop in many European countries. ‘The 2012 vintage will offer consumers in our growing national and international markets fantastic choices,’ said Bobby Koch, president and CEO of California’s Wine Institute.