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.
I'm Gen X and I make my own.
I’ve heard people are substituting weed for alcohol these days. Don’t know how much this would impact the wine industry.
Maybe the wine industry has to improve and become more competitive. IME you have to pay $20 a bottle to get a good wine.
I love red wine but it is too pricey and I can’t drink the crappy stuff anymore.
Plus you can find award-winning vineyards in various places across the country. CA isn’t the giant in charge anymore.
and an increase in cheaper imports.
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Obviously we need more tariffs!
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.
Someone should tell that biz whiz Meghan Markle.
I’m not a huge wine drinker, but never really cared for California wines overall. Preferred German Whites and Italian or Spanish reds.
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?
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.
Replaced by recreational drug use.
I wonder just how much CA’s onerous business and ag regulations have hurt them.
No mention of that......
Depends on whose campaigns they contributed to................
Turn them into raisins. Or those blocks of compressed grapes they used to sell during prohibition. Or grape juice.
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!!
Spill the wine, take that pearl.
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?
Give me red wine, the kind make me feel fine
You make me feel fine all of the time
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