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 ...
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Let’s be frank, California wines are overpriced.
What about Governor Newsom’s wineries? How are they doing?
“but I stopped drinking over 10 years ago ,LOL”
Congratulations
5 years for me!!!
I don't know about condition of his business, but PlumpJack wines are expensive and are out of reach for most middle class Americans.
“Bloom County”
Hunted it up and read it religiously back in the day.
Some of them are while others are of outstanding quality. That said, California does produce some swill. Overall though I prefer wines from Europe.
You mean "growing affinity for" weed, right?
Regards,
More like turning to edibles.
Ca. wineries priced themselves out of the market. No one to blame but themselves.
Nice.
I’ve been out of the home brew business for a while, but I’m about to set off a batch of blackberry.
You are right, it’s fun, cheap and good.
There’s not many times in life you find all three of those together.
“I believe a lot of it is displaced by marijuana.”
Well... burn the grapes and change crops!
I want to do a blackberry mead but I can’t find frozen blackberries. I throw a packet of fresh blackberries in my red table wine and they give it some complexity. Tomorrow I’m putting together a spiced apple wine with apple juice from Aldis.
Around here in western WA blackberries are a weed and grow everywhere. Fruit is just beginning to ripen. Soon the creatures in bear suits will be picking them
It’s a trend of a lot of businesses now days.
Greed
The reason, the root cause, is that Jason Smith is an incompetent Vinter.
His products were inferior and unsaleable
Has Nanzi burned her grapes, yet?
More than likely Nan drinks up most of her production. 😉
Most likely!!
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