California’s Sierra Foothills and Central Valley wine regions—encompassing El Dorado, Amador, Fair Play AVA, Placer, Calaveras, Tuolumne, and the Central Valley—are in a crisis. Plummeting production, unharvested crops, winery closures, and declining revenue threaten these rural economies, driven by oversupply, shifting consumer habits, and environmental challenges. Yet, the California Senate Select Committee on Wine has not met since November 6, 2023, leaving growers and vintners without critical policy support.
Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil (R-Jackson), whose district includes these rural wine regions, stated, “The neglect our committee has shown rural California must be addressed in the 2026 legislative session. Local economies rely on wine revenue and tourism. Our wine industry leaders are crying out for our help!”
Today, Senator Alvarado-Gil will participate in a Town Hall in Murphy’s (Calaveras County) to discuss the needs of the local stakeholders in the industry.
Jody Garcia, Executive Director of The Calaveras Winegrape Alliance noted, “Our biggest challenges in the wine industry in Calaveras County, where winemaking has been a part of our heritage since the mid-1800s, are maintaining visibility and sustainability in an increasingly competitive market while lacking the marketing reach and the resources of a bigger, well-known wine region.”
The statistics demonstrate the crisis:
2024 Harvest Collapse: California’s wine grape crush was the lightest in 20 years, with 350,000 tons abandoned (2.3M barrels), hitting the Central Valley and Sierra Foothills hardest.
Amador County: 60% of 2024 grapes unpicked due to no buyer contracts; no contracts for 2025, projecting a 50-70% output drop from 20,000-25,000 tons (150,000-190,000 barrels).
Rural Struggles: In El Dorado and Amador, where tourism drives 40-50% of revenue, declining visitors led to closures like Turley Wine Cellars.
Younger Generations: Fewer Americans, especially under 35, are drinking, with only 50% of 18-34-year-olds consuming alcohol.
Environmental pressures—wildfires, droughts, and frosts like the 2021 Caldor Fire and 2022 frost in El Dorado and Amador—compound labor shortages and market saturation. Central Valley growers are ripping out vines for water-intensive crops like almonds, risking environmental damage. The Fair Play AVA reports doubled vineyard listings, signaling distress sales.
Despite impressive 2024 yields, the committee’s inaction since November 2023 leaves relief measures like water rights or marketing grants unaddressed. Senator Christopher Cabaldon, appointed Chair in April 2025, and incoming Chair Monique Limón (representing Central Coast) face urgent calls for action.
Added Jody Garcia, “We urge the Senate Committee to prioritize issues impacting small and rural wineries, the backbone of California’s wine industry. Their voices are often sidelined in water policy, labeling, and labor law discussions. Enhanced support for tourism infrastructure, wildfire prevention, and workforce development is critical. The industry needs balanced representation for both large and small producers across California.”
Senator Alvarado-Gil added, “With much of our crops rotting and revenue plummeting, we risk losing our vineyards and California’s reputation as a global wine leader. We must advocate for the rural families who built this industry. The Senate Select Committee must convene in 2026 to address this crisis and protect California’s wine heritage. We have a responsibility to assist the winegrowers in our districts as promised!”