
California wine sector collapses as vineyard burnings and land sales surge
Facing a severe downturn, California’s wine industry is taking drastic steps: Valley Farm Management CEO Jason Smith sold off his land and burned his vineyards, saying there was no longer a way to profit as demand and production slump (pinot noir demand fell after the Sideways boom, and production is down about 30% since 2021 with large quantities of grapes unpicked). With California responsible for roughly 80% of US wine, experts warn hundreds more wineries could close in the next two years as consolidation and asset sales accelerate.












