Posted on 07/31/2026 10:26:10 AM PDT by Libloather
California’s wine industry has gotten so desperate that one vineyard owner torched his own vines after deciding they were worth more as ashes than grapes.
The Golden State’s struggling wineries have faced mounting financial pressure for years, with conditions becoming so grim that California lawmakers recently appealed to Canada to reopen its market to American wine.
But while that international lifeline remains uncertain, a new report from The New York Times is offering a look at just how bleak the situation has become.
Jason Smith, CEO of Valley Farm Management, said he recently sold all of his land — then set fire to his vineyards because there was no longer any economic reason to keep them.
“There’s literally no way for me to make money,” the 57-year-old Smith said.
Wine sales have reached a low point not seen in over two decades, which is largely due to American’s recent aversion to alcohol in general.
An October 2025 Gallup poll revealed that 54% of American adults consume alcohol, the lowest percentage since Gallup started tracking behavior since 1939.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
Will pelosi continue to thrive?
Make vinegar
Wine sales have reached a low point not seen in over two decades, which is largely due to American’s recent aversion to WEED in general.
****
but I stopped drinking over 10 years ago ,LOL
Wine sales have reached a low point not seen in over two decades, which is largely due to American’s recent aversion to WEED in general.
****
I think it’s rather their LOVE for ‘weed’ that’s interfering with their drinking.
So, after telling us not to drink, we are now destroying the economy.
Frankly, I have no compassion to any businesses selling harmful substances.
No to tobacco companies, no to vineries, no to legal marihuana, no to cocaine, no to fentanyl.
“largely due to American’s recent aversion to alcohol”
I think the “journalist” means “Americans’” recent aversion.
Does the Post not hire writers who attended sixth grade?
Yeah. Frank Sinatra used to repeat the Joe E. Lewis joke:
If you can lie flat on the floor and not fall down it means you have not had too much to drink.
That makes sense.
Who wants to bet Gavin Newsome’s winery is not affected?
The same is true in France. A vintner I met there described the same situation.
I believe a lot of it is displaced by marijuana....
Well I’ve got 3 gallons of various vintages fermenting in the Hillbilly winery at my house. Mr.GG2 and I were sipping my most recent blueberry vintage last night with dinner. Tonight I think we’ll have some of my semi dry red table wine. It has a hint of vanilla and a nice blackberry finish. Low cost and no sulphites. 😊
Yes some appear to keep testing it to make sure.
That the problem LOL
Lots of Folks drank low cost distilled products cause regular water was polluted and dangerous.
Fancy Pants folks will drink their fancy wine.
CA vinyarders are entitled Crony Capitalist brats who pull in Slave Labor, Grift the Tax Code, and use up scarce water resources in a phookin desert.
The average person doesn’t give a shiite about the grape growers in CA.
"King Charles III’s Favorite Car Runs on Wine and Cheese"
https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/royalty/king-charles-aston-martin-biofuel
“...which is largely due to American’s recent aversion to alcohol in general...”
No wonder US is so bollixed up.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.