Overview: California lost 8% of its wine grape acreage in the last year, according to estimates from a wine grape mapping report released by the California Association of Winegrape Growers and Land IQ. Between Aug. 1, 2025 and Aug. 1, 2026, 47,229 acres were removed, leaving 439,115 total acres remaining.
The Full Story
The findings put numbers to changes growers are experiencing firsthand, behind which lie difficult decisions affecting families, employees and local businesses. Natalie Collins, president of the grape grower association, noted that acreage is adjusting to a difficult market as the industry works to rebuild demand for California wine. Last year’s inaugural report recorded 38,134 acres removed between October 2024 and August 2025.
Ben Kolber, owner of the Lodi-based KGVineyard Management, stated that the Lodi area has seen lots of vineyards removed in the last two years. These vineyards will not come back in the ground, Kolber said. The public portion of this year’s report will not include a county-by-county breakdown of where vineyards were removed, though previous data highlighted San Joaquin and Fresno as counties with highest acreage losses.
Land IQ uses artificial intelligence, remote sensing and on-the-ground verification to map vineyard blocks statewide. It does not verify if the vineyards are in use. In recent years, many grape growers have left fruit to rot on vines. The report does include newly captured acreage numbering around 8,900. Those acres are vineyards that were not mapped last year — which does not mean that they are all newly planted vines.
The billion-dollar wine and grape industries have faced bankruptcies, sales and serious downsizing in recent years as they wrestle with an oversaturated market. Grape growers and winemakers of all sizes are contending with a steep drop in consumer demand and the loss of the majority of wine exports to Canada. Many consumers are drinking less or buying ready-to-drink beverages such as beer and canned cocktails.
Numerous grape growers and winemakers have laid off staff. The most recent grape crush report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows wineries crushed 2.62 million tons of wine grapes in the Golden State in 2025, down over 8% from 2024.
What This Means
This year’s grape harvest was one of the earliest in decades for some regions, with significantly less tonnage harvested following weather events in the spring that led to smaller grape clusters. About five years ago, a lighter harvest might have spelled trouble for wine grape growers who rely on tonnage for sales. This year, industry representatives said a lighter yield may allow for a course correction to the oversaturated grape and wine markets.
Average prices for red and white wine grapes per ton were down 4.4% and 0.9%, respectively, from 2024 to 2025. California produces around 80% of all wine in the United States, according to industry groups. The wine industry supports more than 422,000 jobs statewide, generating about $73 billion in annual economic activity, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Consumer Takeaway
The news offers insight into market stability and pricing dynamics for the drinker. Average prices for red and white wine grapes per ton were down 4.4% and 0.9%, respectively, from 2024 to 2025. Industry representatives said a lighter yield may allow for a course correction to the oversaturated grape and wine markets.
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