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Idling vineyards in the Pacific Northwest
Report   Open access   Peer reviewed

Idling vineyards in the Pacific Northwest

Michelle M Moyer, Markus Keller and Patricia A. Skinkis
Washington State University Extension fact sheet, 407E, Washington State University Extension
03/2026
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7273/000008078
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FS407E_06042026_htmlOnly130.26 kBDownloadView
Open Access

Abstract

Vineyards -- Northwest, Pacific -- Management Viticulture -- Northwest, Pacific Agriculture
Sometimes market demand, economic constraints, or resource scarcity dictate that vineyard production is put on hold. In this situation, the landowner is not planning to remove the vineyard but to put the vineyard on “standby” or “idle” with reduced inputs until production can proceed. This is usually a few years of reduced input until there are changes in the grape market, environmental conditions or resource availability that allow return to production. When idling a vineyard, the priority is to bring that vineyard back into production within a few years given the cost and timeline for returns-on-investment of the long-lived perennial crop. “Mothballing” is another term commonly used for describing vineyards where fruit is not needed (i.e., not contracted or will not be used by the winery). We chose to use the term “idling” with the distinction that the period of reduced input management is short—one to three years. Mothballing can describe a similar timeframe but may include longer periods of time and fewer inputs that seriously impact sustainable return to production. Management choices for longer-term, minimal management can look different than options described herein and will likely have stronger economic implications in prioritization of practices.

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