(Wines&Vines) - Turrentine Brokerage reports that there isn’t enough Cabernet Sauvignon being produced in Sonoma County to meet current demand.

“Despite back-to-back large harvests, demand for both grapes and wines in bulk has remained strong, reflecting strong consumer demand for Cabernet Sauvignon at premium price points,” said Steve Fredricks, president of Turrentine Brokerage. 

“Growers in Sonoma County are focused on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, so they’re not planting Cabernet,” he added, even though there’s demand for Cabernet—particularly from the Alexander, Dry Creek and Sonoma valleys.

The shortage is forcing wineries including major brands to look to other areas—notably Lake, Mendocino and other North Coast regions.

The average price per ton of Cabernet Sauvignon from District 3 (Sonoma and Marin counties) was $2,469 in 2013, according to the California Crush Report. That was almost flat with the $2,417 per ton reported in 2000.

The district provided 44,256 tons of Cabernet Sauvignon in 2013, up from 32,772 in 2000. 2012 was a record year with 46,770 tons. The five-year average was 38,100. Sonoma County Vintners estimate the number of acres of Cabernet Sauvignon vines is 12,600, which would be an average yield of 3.5 tons per acre in 2013.

Though smaller than the crop in Napa County, Sonoma’s Cabernet tonnage is considerably larger than those in other parts of California’s North Coast American Viticultural Area. Strong demand and increasing prices will stimulate interest in planting Cabernet Sauvignon in Sonoma County, but a shortage of appropriate sites, environmental regulations and high costs will moderate the response.

 Fredricks noted that the few additions of Cabernet vines that are occurring are coming mostly from grafting over Merlot and Chardonnay in areas suitable for Cabernet.