SAN FRANCISCO, CA (MARKET WIRE) - The first extensive survey in at least a decade designed to detail the financial and operating performance of wineries and grape growers throughout the states of California, Oregon and Washington is being launched this week in a joint effort by Moss Adams LLP, the largest west coast-based accounting, tax and consulting firm, and Demeter Group, a San Francisco-based investment bank, both deeply involved as advisors to the wine industry. A panel of leading executives assisted in designing the survey and prominent industry associations have indicated their support for the survey.

The objective of "The Wine Industry Financial Benchmarking Survey," which is being conducted at a cost of approximately $250,000, is to provide participating wineries and grape growers with industry-aggregated data on a confidential basis that can be used to measure and compare their own company’s performances. A comprehensive online questionnaire will soon be available to all West and Northwestern wineries and growers. Plans are to conduct the survey every two years.

"There has been a notable lack in recent years of useful and accurate industry data that can assist winery and vineyard owners in managing and measuring their businesses, and the Financial Benchmark Survey is aimed at filling that gap," said Jeff Gutsch, Partner and Wine Industry Group Chairman of Moss Adams.

Jeff Menashe, CEO of Demeter Group, added, "In discussing this with numerous owners and executives, and based on our own experience in the industry, there clearly is a need, which the survey is intended to address. We believe this will be a valuable tool and will be of great assistance to operators of both wineries and vineyards."

"An important feature of the survey is that all the individual data including identities of participants will be strictly confidential," said Gutsch. "While we plan to report on the survey’s key findings early this fall, the detailed information will be supplied only to participants in aggregate form for use in comparing their performance to the industry and their peer group. No individual information will be released."

Participation is on a voluntary basis, but both Demeter and Moss Adams expect a wide response. The final report will be available only to participating wineries and growers and will not be available to non-participants for 18 months following its release. Among the topics covered in the benchmarking survey are questions on viticulture, grape sales, wine production, wine sales, production costs, capital expenditures, and accounting policies.

Both Moss Adams and Demeter Group pointed out that, based on their extensive involvement in the industry, there is a major need, especially in the current economic environment, for such information. They plan to conduct the Benchmark Survey as a long-range project, but because of the extensive information required will do so every two years. "We envision this ongoing program as an important undertaking that will benefit the industry, and one that will establish itself as the standard by which wineries and vineyard operators up and down the west coast can gauge their activities as well as establish useful financial and operating objectives," they said.

The survey was designed with the participation of senior financial and operating executives from a range of prominent grape growers and wine producers including Jackson Family Wines, Williams Selyem Winery, Frog’s Leap Winery, JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, and Long Shadows Vintners LLC.

Industry associations that have already expressed their support for the survey to their members and constituents include Sonoma County Vintners, Sonoma County Winegrape Commission, California Certified Organic Farmers, and the Washington Wine Industry Foundation.