country is going through some massive changes.

Currently, Americans are than ever—only 54 percent of people consume booze, a 90-year low—which dredges up quite a few problems for the wine industry at large. As a result of that low demand and a massive decline in sales, producers in the Golden State have ripped out nearly 40,000 acres of vines over the past year, according to a new from the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG).

From October 1, 2024, to August 1 of this year, 38,194 acres of winegrapes were removed, the 2025 Standing Winegrape Acreage study says. That means, overall, farmers ripped out 7 percent of California vines, leaving around 477,000 acres behind. San Joaquin saw the most removal, with 7,796 acres ripped out, which equals 10 percent of the vineyards foun

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