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California winery owner gives hottest take yet on why industry is dying
nypost.com ^ | Feb. 25, 2026 | Ross O'Keefe

Posted on 02/26/2026 6:34:32 AM PST by V_TWIN

US News Metro Long Island Politics World News Metro California winery owner gives hottest take yet on why industry is dying By Ross O'Keefe Published Feb. 25, 2026, 6:43 p.m. ET

503 Today's Video Headlines

00:10 / 00:50 The owner of a Sonoma County winery believes the industry is dying because baby boomers are.

Jon Phillips, the owner of Sonoma County winery Inspiration Vineyards and Winery, told The Post that the population decline of the industry’s top wine-consuming generation has led to a recent downturn in sales.

“A lot of people have a misconception that the boomers are drinking less,” he said. “This cannot be emphasized enough: It’s not because the boomers are drinking less, it’s because there are less boomers.”

He says in conjunction with the declining baby boomer demand is less interest from younger generations like Gen Z and millennials, who have slowly adopted wine. Other factors like tariffs and recent wildfires have hurt wine-growing and producing operations, he added. He also pins declining sales on new negative messaging concerning alcohol.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: boomers; california; winery
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To: V_TWIN
Gen Z and millennials, who have slowly adopted wine.

I have many in my family - for them (and their friends), it's all about craft beer.

Haven't seen a one of them drink wine.

21 posted on 02/26/2026 7:26:31 AM PST by Bon of Babble (You Say You Want a Revolution?)
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To: V_TWIN

And some of us boomers don’t drink at all. Back when I did some 40 odd years ago I seldom touched wine.

When watching a TV program where people are at a restaurant recommending a whine, pouring a little in a glass, swirling it, smelling of it, then a quick taste - to me that’s just silly.

Back in my day a six pack of beer did the trick. Just pop a top and enjoy.


22 posted on 02/26/2026 7:27:04 AM PST by redfreedom (They’re AWFUL...Affuent White Female Urban Leftists)
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To: V_TWIN

” I just think California wine has always been overpriced.....especially from the Napa region.”

It absolutely is.

When I buy wine, I look for bottom shelf from France.

The French dump their excess wine in the US...cheap labels and prices. Screw on caps (everyone should do this).

$9 and better than any $25 bottle I’ve ever tried. A true bargain.


23 posted on 02/26/2026 7:27:52 AM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: FamiliarFace

Less boomers because they lined up to take MORE vaxxxxxxxines.

Ed Dowd said he is no loner working on vaxxxxxxxine death rates but he did say EXCESS DEATHS is still up 5% IIRC.

If Dr Bill Gates could have only got MORE of the fools to get their boosters every SIX MONTHS- then he could have met his population reduction goals.


24 posted on 02/26/2026 7:30:17 AM PST by politicianslie (Gold is the money of kings, silver for gentlemen, barter for peasants, debt is money for slaves )
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To: SomeCallMeTim

“The alcohol business is in an extended downturn that will likely continue for another generation.”

Beer still sells by the truckload.


25 posted on 02/26/2026 7:30:55 AM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: V_TWIN
Jon Phillips, the owner of Sonoma County winery Inspiration Vineyards and Winery, told The Post that the population decline of the industry’s top wine-consuming generation has led to a recent downturn in sales.

Totally false. They should take lessons from Ilhan Omar, whose winery investment went from zero to $15 million in two years...and she did it without selling a single bottle of wine!

26 posted on 02/26/2026 7:38:06 AM PST by econjack
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To: V_TWIN

The dead boomers may not drink as much California wine, at least they can still vote for democrats.


27 posted on 02/26/2026 7:43:17 AM PST by Organic Panic ('Was I molested. I think so' - Ashley Biden in response to her father joining her in the shower)
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To: shelterguy

Wineries have become a very popular business and anybody can beat California’s prices. Wine tourism is booming.


28 posted on 02/26/2026 7:51:05 AM PST by SaxxonWoods (Annnd....I voted for this too!)
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To: If You Want It Fixed - Fix It

Wine isn’t a sin.


29 posted on 02/26/2026 7:55:58 AM PST by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: SaxxonWoods

“””Wine tourism is booming.”

I saw a sign once...We aren’t alcoholics. They go to meetings.

We are drunks, we go camping.

So these winos can say...We are not alcoholics, we are wine connoisseurs.


30 posted on 02/26/2026 7:56:39 AM PST by shelterguy
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To: politicianslie

As I mentioned before, fewer boomers.


31 posted on 02/26/2026 7:58:52 AM PST by FamiliarFace (I got my own way of livin' But everything gets done With a southern accent Where I come from. TPetty)
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To: shelterguy

They may be self-styled wine experts but they can’t turn water into wine on the spot like the Real Expert.


32 posted on 02/26/2026 8:02:17 AM PST by SaxxonWoods (Annnd....I voted for this too!)
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To: V_TWIN

Wine in the U.S. was historically associated with European culture. It was part of our Western Civilization. As a kid, my family always had wine at dinner, usually just a jug of ‘hearty burgandy’. The fancier versions of the stuff garnered a following of sorts, and the tasting of wine became a wonderful way to spend a day up in the ‘Wine Country’. It was a somewhat affordable luxury, breaking out ‘the good stuff’ for special occasions. Demographics, including our cultural roots, have changed. Wine just doesn’t have the meaning it used to for so many people. People don’t socialize in traditional European fashion so much any longer.


33 posted on 02/26/2026 8:05:53 AM PST by drwoof
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To: V_TWIN

The guy does have a point. Fewer people drink wine regularly. Also enormous amounts of wine are imported into the US from Chile, Australia and other countries Most is good wine at lower prices that puts enormous pressure on commercial California wine makers.


34 posted on 02/26/2026 8:09:03 AM PST by allendale
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To: Mariner

Thanks, can you provide any labels?


35 posted on 02/26/2026 8:15:30 AM PST by V_TWIN (America....so great even the people that hate it won't leave)
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To: V_TWIN
"Earth calling Orson, Earth calling Orson.
Come in, Orson. The little bastards are busy
inhaling plant fumes and won't drink anymore!"

OrsonWellsCommercials

"You have to return and make more commercials."

36 posted on 02/26/2026 8:28:21 AM PST by MikelTackNailer (Eeny meany chili beany, the spirits are about to speak!)
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To: alternatives?

BShitte. It is all about over production and narcissistic arsholes like Newscum — yes, he owns a winery.

Too many producers. Too many laws making production too expensive. An example is limits on water.


37 posted on 02/26/2026 8:42:25 AM PST by bobbo666
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To: V_TWIN

Well, boomers are indeed dying, but if anything tariffs would help America’s wine producing entities, because their products are not subjected to tariffs.


38 posted on 02/26/2026 8:44:59 AM PST by Robert DeLong
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To: alternatives?

Exactly. Domestic producers charge what ever the market will bear. People buy with whatever they can bare.


39 posted on 02/26/2026 8:49:07 AM PST by Racketeer
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To: SomeCallMeTim

“...they’re reducing in numbers at an accelerating rate. “

Bruh


40 posted on 02/26/2026 9:23:20 AM PST by one guy in new jersey
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