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Crisis in California wine industry: Unsold grapes and struggling farmers
Fox40.com ^ | September 21, 2025 | Kimberly Cruz

Posted on 10/13/2025 6:23:18 AM PDT by Red Badger

(FOX40.COM) — According to the California Association of Winegrape Growers, the Golden State produces about 80% of all wine in the United States.

The wine industry has been a major economic driver for the state for decades. Creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, generating billions in revenue, and attracting tourism.

However, now the state’s wine industry is in a crisis, tackling several challenges. It’s an impact affecting local farmers and wineries in Northern California

“I am fourth-generation farmer here in Clarksburg for my family’s farm, Wilson Vineyards, and I am the owner and winemaker of Silt Wine Company,” said David Ogilvie.

Just like many grape growers in California, this year some of Ogilvie’s grapes will go unpicked because of no buyers.

“This is the first time, in my family’s history, that this block is going unsold,” Ogilvie explained.

The block he is referring to is a section about 15 acres big and unfortunately, not the only grapes that will remain on the vine this harvest season.

“It’s an economic hit to the family farm. When we have multiple blocks like we do this year that will go on unharvested, it hurts,” Ogilvie said.

“Growers throughout California are facing an immense amount of challenges today and really, it’s not just one singular challenge. It is a host of challenges that have all stacked up and have really made things pretty dire here, Natalie Collins, President of the California Association of Winegrape Growers, said.

She said some of the challenges include a decrease in consumption by the younger generation, an oversupply of grapes, and an increase in cheaper imports.

“We’ve seen bulk wine, flood into the U.S. it’s up 17% year to date,” said Collins, “We get calls daily at our association from growers looking for answers. What can I do next? Sadly, there are generational farmers who are going out of business.”

Collins added this harvest season, more grapes will go unharvested while other vineyards will simply be lost.

“We removed over 37,000 acres of vineyards last year and there’s a call for another 50,000 to be removed,” Collins said.

“We are seeing, you know, a loss of jobs. Farm workers are struggling. The trucking companies are going to be struggling. Our suppliers, our barrel companies, the grapevine nurseries are fertilizer companies,” said Stuart Spencer, executive director of the Lodi Winegrape Commission.

Spencer added the farmers and wineries in the region are adapting during these challenging times. Finding new ways to bring in more consumers into the wine industry.

Spencer explained that right now, the biggest push is for people to support local.

“You know, we need to support local businesses. That’s how we all benefit. When you go to the stores, you know, look where your food comes from, look where your wine comes from and support Californians. It’ll benefit all of us,” Spencer said.

While the future of the wine industry in the Golden State is unknown, grape growers and winemakers in Northern California are hopeful.


TOPICS: Agriculture; Business/Economy; Food; Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: itistolaugh
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To: Red Badger
Gen X, Y, Z don’t much care for wine

I'm Gen X and I make my own.

41 posted on 10/13/2025 7:37:38 AM PDT by dware (Americans prefer peaceful slavery over dangerous freedom)
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To: rod5591

I’ve heard people are substituting weed for alcohol these days. Don’t know how much this would impact the wine industry.


42 posted on 10/13/2025 7:43:00 AM PDT by packagingguy
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To: Red Badger

Maybe the wine industry has to improve and become more competitive. IME you have to pay $20 a bottle to get a good wine.


43 posted on 10/13/2025 7:45:48 AM PDT by Vision (“Our Democracy” means "Our Slush Fund." The Left is hate.)
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To: rod5591

I love red wine but it is too pricey and I can’t drink the crappy stuff anymore.


44 posted on 10/13/2025 7:54:17 AM PDT by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Red Badger

Plus you can find award-winning vineyards in various places across the country. CA isn’t the giant in charge anymore.


45 posted on 10/13/2025 7:56:24 AM PDT by lurk (u)
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To: Red Badger

and an increase in cheaper imports.
__________________

Obviously we need more tariffs!


46 posted on 10/13/2025 7:57:25 AM PDT by AZJeep (sane )
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To: kosciusko51
And it seems drinking is not in fashion with the younger generations.

The younger generations are not that social. And it appears that among Gen Z, women are getting more liberal while men are getting more conservative.

47 posted on 10/13/2025 7:58:31 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: rod5591
wine is too expensive. no wonder consumption is down

Someone should tell that biz whiz Meghan Markle.

48 posted on 10/13/2025 7:59:43 AM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away! 🇺🇸 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 )
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To: Red Badger

I’m not a huge wine drinker, but never really cared for California wines overall. Preferred German Whites and Italian or Spanish reds.


49 posted on 10/13/2025 8:04:23 AM PDT by voicereason (When a bartender can join Congress and become a millionaire...there’s a problem.)
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To: Tell It Right

Yeah, a lot of vineyard land is not suitable for a cranberry bog, what with vineyards frequently being on hillsides. I was just thinking the same thing, tho, maybe they can grow something else?


50 posted on 10/13/2025 8:05:46 AM PDT by jimtorr
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To: crusty old prospector
It’s only been recently that Texas has been producing enough wine to satisfy local demand. The growth in wineries along Highway 290 over the past few years is astounding. Excellent wine is being produced in Texas at fraction of the cost compared to California.

My palette isn’t sophisticated enough to tell the difference between a $30 Texas Cabernet Sauvignon and a $200 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. On my last visit to Fall Creek Winery in Driftwood, I went overboard, spending $300 on six bottles. I was celebrating another bonus from work, and a few wines caught my eye.

I don’t drink as much as I used to, so I don’t mind paying more. We don’t go out for dinner, either. I can grill steaks at home and save money there, so the cost evens out.

51 posted on 10/13/2025 8:11:55 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (Remember the Alamo! Remember Goliad! Remember Gonzales! Come and Take It! I’m )
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To: kosciusko51
And it seems drinking is not in fashion with the younger generations.

Replaced by recreational drug use.

52 posted on 10/13/2025 8:24:06 AM PDT by sphinx
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To: Red Badger

I wonder just how much CA’s onerous business and ag regulations have hurt them.

No mention of that......


53 posted on 10/13/2025 8:32:15 AM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus….)
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To: metmom

Depends on whose campaigns they contributed to................


54 posted on 10/13/2025 8:34:24 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegals are put up in 5 Star hotels....................)
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To: Red Badger

Turn them into raisins. Or those blocks of compressed grapes they used to sell during prohibition. Or grape juice.


55 posted on 10/13/2025 8:41:47 AM PDT by kaktuskid
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To: kaktuskid
Turn them into raisins.


56 posted on 10/13/2025 8:43:08 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: rod5591

Only in America, capitalism, is too much goods a bad thing!!

Funny. Too much good weatger, too much good “gardening”. Too much good marketing.

Welcome to farming, except....AGE THE WINE AND STOP WHINING!

The market has to correct itself like all other industries must.

How about more foods made with wine on youtube? Push wine flavored burger sauces for restaurants....

Try this advertisement:
Wine, the nonchlorinated preppers drink during the dark ages!!


57 posted on 10/13/2025 8:48:42 AM PDT by If You Want It Fixed - Fix It
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To: If You Want It Fixed - Fix It

Spill the wine, take that pearl.


58 posted on 10/13/2025 8:50:13 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: Red Badger

Instead of whining these farmers should look for new opportunities. I know of several wineries in Minnesota that are buying grapes in California and producing their own wines here in the Midwest. Why not expand the market for their grapes to wine makers outside of California? The California leftists complain about Trumps tariffs, but those tariffs are making imported wine more expensive and are protecting American wine makers. California wine makers are also losing the young generation who are drinking spiked soda pop like seltzers. Why not better advertising for California wines as a natural alternative to these artificially flavored concoctions?


59 posted on 10/13/2025 8:52:00 AM PDT by The Great RJ
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To: dfwgator

Give me red wine, the kind make me feel fine
You make me feel fine all of the time


60 posted on 10/13/2025 8:54:55 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
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