{
  "id": 10670534,
  "title": "California farmers are struggling to sell grapes as demand for wine drops",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/california-farmers-are-struggling-to-sell-grapes-as-demand-for-wine-10670534",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-28T20:00:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hacker News Best",
    "slug": "hacker-news-best",
    "url": "https://www.kqed.org/news/12101534/california-farmers-are-struggling-to-sell-grapes-as-demand-for-wine-drops"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "California’s wine industry is facing a significant challenge as demand for wine plummets, causing grape growers to grapple with how to manage their vast vineyards. Harvest season in the state's wine country has brought forth an unprecedented decline in sales, with the industry experiencing a drop of more than 20% over the past five years. This downturn has prompted some growers to tear out their vineyards, despite generations of tradition tied to the land.\n\nIn response to the decreasing market, wine producers are forced to make difficult decisions. Many are left with the choice of harvesting grapes at a loss, leaving them on the vine, or replacing their vineyards with crops that have higher demand, such as almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and olives. For third-generation grower Bill Berryhill, this means another year of financial strain and wasted grape harvests. \"It's just sickening,\" he says, standing amongst unsold merlot grapes in his vineyard near Lodi.\n\nThe Central Valley, where Berryhill's family has grown grapes for three generations, has seen a dramatic shift in vineyard acreage. Allied Grape Growers, representing around 500 farmers statewide, reports that roughly 25% of California's vineyards have been removed or stopped actively growing wine grapes. Currently, about half of California's wine grape crop is entering the harvest season without contracts with buyers, a stark contrast to the usual 70 to 80% with contracts.\n\nThe decline in wine sales is attributed to changing drinking habits, with younger generations consuming less alcohol due to health and financial concerns. Craft beer, liquor, canned cocktails, and cannabis have also become popular alternatives, putting pressure on the wine market. Tariffs have further reduced exports, particularly to Canada, which was the largest foreign buyer of American wine.\n\nDespite the adversity, Berryhill remains committed to the vineyards he inherited from his grandfather. \"I love growing grapes,\" he asserts. \"It's in the blood. Because I love them, I can weather this and I'll fight through it.\" However, this challenging period has had ripple effects beyond the vineyards, impacting local businesses and farmworkers who rely on the industry's economic activity.",
  "summary": "Article URL: https://www.kqed.org/news/12101534/california-farmers-are-struggling-to-sell-grapes-as-demand-for-wine-drops Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49883539 Points: 227 # Comments: 547",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}