The cowardly press refuse to point fingers at the real source of the problem.

Wine consumption is declining globally as people drink less.

While this is true to a point, it's probably more true that the fact you pissed off the people who consumed 36% of your wine exports. Who then stopped buying your wine.

Oopsie!

But you can't point your finger at Trump if you're the press in the USA. You get sanctioned.

The grapes of wrath.

At its peak during the pandemic, California had almost 600,000 acres of vineyards, but farmers have removed or stopped actively growing wine grapes on roughly 25% of that land, said Jeff Bitter, president of Allied Grape Growers, which represents about 500 farmers statewide.

and

In the U.S., sales of wine cases declined 23% from 427 million in 2020 to 329 million in 2025, while total wine spending fell 22% from $94 billion to $74 billion, according to First Citizens Bank, formerly Silicon Valley Bank, which produces an annual State of the Wine Industry Report.

So in reality, the sales decline is entirely due to reduced production, not reduced consumption.

Europe, South America and the US over planted 10-15 years ago, driving down prices. They were expecting a boom in Chinese sales but in fact the Chinese didn't really like the type of wine they produce.

Is this people are drinking less, or people are drinking less American wine?

Ya, so.

California farmers are also Trump lovers so this is a bit of Leopards. Wine is expensive. I work too much to be able to drink wine and I don't make enough to afford wine. Boomers worked less and made more. Their luxury crops are absolutely going to fail.