Join Vineyard Team and Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance for a half-day Industry Update bringing together growers, experts, and advocates for a timely pulse check on grape markets, grower resources, and state-level developments shaping our region in 2026. This ticketed* event includes lunch and will feature: Grape Market Update & Industry Outlook – A look at current bulk wine and grape market trends, supply and demand dynamics, and what they mean for your business decisions this season. Grants & Funding Opportunities Panel – Moderated by an experienced grower, this conversation brings together funding and program specialists who work directly with agricultural grants and cost-share programs. Learn what opportunities are available, how to position your operation for success, and what makes a strong application. Policy & Advocacy Update – Michael Miiller of the California Association of Winegrape Growers shares key statewide developments and policy prioriti

A tumultuous 2025 economy likely depressed wine sales. In 2026, the higher-end segments should continue to outperform, and the grape market should be less oversupplied when harvest begins. REPORT SNAPSHOT Situation: Wine sales softened across the board in 2025, and prices stagnated as a result of consumer price sensitivity and heightened competition among producers trying to move excess inventory. Although the wine market slump continues, relative bright spots include premium and luxury wines, nonalcoholic and ready-to-drink wines, and white and sparkling wines. Outlook: I’m not expecting a material change in the trajectory of U.S. wine sales in the near term, though I see the most potential for progress in the second half of the year. There should be less excess supply burdening the grape market when the 2026 harvest begins than there was in 2025. Impact: For wineries that are fairly certain about their grape needs, it may be prudent to act sooner rather than later. Download the

March 13, 2026 (Novato, CA) — Following the release of the Preliminary 2025 California Grape Crush Report, Turrentine Brokerage, the largest California grape and bulk wine brokerage company, has issued a market assessment characterizing the 2025 vintage as one of the most challenging for the wine industry since Prohibition. According to the new state data, the total tons crushed came in at 2.62 million tons, a figure that is above initial projections and well above what was felt by the industry. This statewide volume is 8% below 2024 and 23% below the 5-year average. Total red wine production declined by 9% and white wine production declined by 6%. “The decrease in tons is still very positive news for the industry overall,” said Steve Fredricks, President at Turrentine Brokerage. “The 2025 vintage highlights the industry’s directional shift of declining production and an overall restructure of the industry. 2025 represented continued challenges for grower

An exceptionally small 2025 grape harvest would help balance wine inventories and potentially stimulate grape demand next year There wasn’t much change in the complexion of the wine market in the third quarter. Sales continued to decline across channels and price points, though at varying rates. Some segments improved while others worsened. Wine exports continued to flag because of provincial bans in Canada.  I continue to believe the slump is mainly structural, particularly at the lower end of the market (see Page 3). But I also believe economic factors such as inflation and depressed consumer sentiment have played a role, and I expect wine sales to firm up once the economic backdrop improves. Unfortunately, we aren’t expecting much change in the economy, for better or worse, in the months ahead, so the wine market isn’t likely to see much improvement either.  2025 was a painful year for California grape growers. Weather was an issue, but the grape market p

The 2026 State of the U.S. Wine Industry Report, published by Silicon Valley Bank and authored by Rob McMillan, provides a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of current conditions in the U.S. wine market. Built on more than 25 years of industry research, the report combines results from SVB’s annual winery survey, its Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) survey, demographic and cohort consumption modeling, and a wide range of third-party wholesale, retail, and population datasets. The conclusion is clear: while the industry continues to face structural headwinds, wineries are not experiencing these conditions equally. A widening performance gap has emerged between those adapting to changing demand and those struggling to do so. 2025 Performance: A Difficult Year for Many By nearly every measure, 2025 was a challenging year for the U.S. wine industry. Roughly half of the surveyed wineries rated the year negatively, citing slowing demand, rising costs, margin pressure, and inventory ch

Afternoon Brief, January 9

Wine Data Shows Causes for Optimism: The wine outlook might be dark, but there are occasional rays of sunshine breaking through, according to Wine-Searcher's data...

Another month of calm November typically marks the end of a new harvest and the middle of our busiest sales quarter. October’s government shutdown created unbelievable market uncertainty. But with the system back up and Thanksgiving almost normal, stability returned rather than the predicted surges or collapses by pundits from both sides. Still, questions remain about the future of our economic recovery prospects. For now, it is a reprieve, allowing us to regroup for the new year. Market dynamics The delayed reports from Commerce and the Bureau of Labor Statistics have started to trickle in, bringing some key takeaways: Unemployment is holding at 3.8%. Inflation easing to 2.3% YoY. Consumer spending down ~2% from Q3, but no hint of a cliff. As we close out the year and look to 2026, the focus will be on staying agile in both supply planning and capturing winery sales and marketing opportunities. The key trends persist: Steady demand, no major swings, and a growing gap between spe

Incremental buying keeps bulk market ticking over In its ‘World Production Outlook: First Estimates 2025’, published in late November, the Organisation of Vine & Wine (OIV) estimated global wine production at between 228 and 235 million hectolitres. The mid-range projection – 232 million hectolitres – would, the OIV stated, represent a 3% recovery from the provisional 2024 figure of 225.8 million. We suspect the OIV’s midrange projection could be an overestimate, as it includes a questionable expectation of the US harvest: rather than larger as the OIV states, California’s 2025 crop is widely assumed to have come in even smaller than 2024’s twenty-year low. Widespread non-harvesting of uncontracted grapes meant a disparity between crop potential and the tonnages that in fact crossed the scales. The OIV’s estimate of Italy’s harvest could also be downwardly revised, after reports that some deleterious effects from adverse condit

American Canyon, CA — WineDirect Fulfillment is proud to highlight its long-standing and evolving partnership with Jackson Family Wines, a collaboration built on shared values, innovation, and a commitment to excellence. At WineDirect Fulfillment, partnership is the foundation of everything we do. We operate as an extension of our clients’ organizations, working closely to plan, optimize, and execute fulfillment strategies that drive results. Our partnerships extend beyond our clients to include suppliers, communities, and industry peers, all united by a common goal: delivering exceptional value and impact. Since 2018, WineDirect Fulfillment has partnered with Jackson Family Wines to deliver scalable, efficient, and customer-focused solutions. What began as a solution to a shipping need has grown into a dynamic, multi-faceted partnership. Together, we have developed solutions across disciplines including martech integrations, sustainable packaging initiatives, and

The Sonoma County airport is named for him, so is a museum and ice rink. Peanuts creator Charles M. Schultz spent 42 years living and working in Sonoma County, with “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” one of his most famous works. Schultz, during his lifetime, kept an airplane at the airport and was an avid aviator. Snoopy, of course, loved flying too. Schultz was born in 1922 in Minnesota and given the nickname Sparky at a young age. In 1929 the family moved west to Needles, California. The move was said to be prompted by a young cousin’s tuberculosis, which would fare better in a desert climate. Schultz later incorporated Needles into many of his comic strips, particularly those built around Snoopy’s brother Spike, who lived alone in the desert with coyotes and cactus. Their time in the desert was alas short-lived, and Schultz moved back to Minnesota in time for elementary school. This is also where he developed his lifelong passion for ice hockey.