Californian vineyards in crisis
California’s 2025 wine harvest has revealed a deepening crisis, with vast tracts of vineyards abandoned as growers struggle to cover rising costs. Industry leaders warn of the state’s smallest crop in decades as producers cut back on grape purchases.
According to Allied Grape Growers President Jeff Bitter, around 20,000 hectares were left unharvested this year, on top of 40,000 hectares cleared since 2024.
The Sonoma County Winegrowers estimate that 30% of grapes grown this season went unsold as major buyers like Constellation Brands and Jackson Family Wines reduced their intake.
The total harvest may drop another 400,000 tons from last year’s already low 2.9 million. Across regions such as Lodi, ghost plots now litter the landscape. A new Californian law allows fines of up to US $1,000 per acre for neglected vineyards, aimed at curbing pest and disease risks from abandoned vines.
