California Grape Growers Rip Out Vineyards as Wine Demand Plummets
California Farmers Are Struggling to Sell Grapes as Demand for Wine Drops
Wine sales have fallen more than 20% in five years, pushing California growers to pull about a quarter of the state's vineyards out of production. This harvest, roughly half the wine grape crop entered the season without buyer contracts, compared with 70–80% in a typical year. Many growers must choose between harvesting at a loss, leaving grapes on the vine, or replacing vineyards with almonds, walnuts, pistachios, or olives.
You raise a beautiful crop, and it’s really a nice vintage this year, and you drop it on the ground. It’s sad. All your work is just down the toilet.