California Farmers Are Struggling to Sell Grapes as Demand for Wine Drops

California grape growers are struggling to sell their harvest as global wine consumption has declined over 20% in five years, causing prices to plummet and forcing many to remove vineyards or harvest at significant losses. About 25% of the state's vineyards have been taken out of production, and roughly half of this year's wine grape crop lacks buyer contracts, compared to 70-80% typically having pre-arranged sales. Faced with unsold crops, growers are either abandoning healthy grapes or replanting with alternative crops like almonds and walnuts.