Economic Consequences of Phylloxera in Cold Climate Wine Grape Production Areas of Eastern Washington

The spread of phylloxera in cold climate wine grape producing areas that experience severe winter to the above ground portion of the vine presents significant economic consequences. Winter kill without phylloxera means that the grower can retrain the vine from the roots if it is planted on its own roots. This condition separates eastern Washington from other cold climate wine production areas in North America. In that case, the vineyard does not have to be replanted and it is back in production sooner. Winter kill that destroys the desired scion cultivar back to the phylloxera resistant rootstock means that the grower must either field graft with the scion cultivar or replant the vineyard with new grafted vines. If protection against phylloxera is needed and winter kill occurs, the consequences of replanting a vineyard with grafted plants reduces the net present value by approximately $4,000 per acre and the internal rate of return by over 4 percent.