""That's very unusual. There was also a spell of unseasonal rain which threatened to ruin certain thin-skin varieties of grapes," Filipponi said."
""There was a lot of what we call pantry packing, where a person could go buy two or three bottles for what they'd buy one bottle at a restaurant," Filipponi said."
California vineyards experienced a sharp drop in demand driven by cheap imported wines and reduced consumption among younger generations. Thirty-seven thousand acres of vineyards were removed last year, with another 50,000 acres at risk of conversion to other crops. Weather patterns have become erratic: 2024 featured at least two weeks of extreme heat and wide temperature swings, while 2025 registered only three days of 100°F and a spell of unseasonal rain that threatened thin-skinned grape varieties. Pandemic-era pantry packing temporarily boosted retail wine sales, but that uplift has faded as broader market pressures persist.
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