Wine country faces a sharp decline as drought, rising costs, and shifting consumer habits force vineyard closures and bankruptcies. Once a thriving tourist destination, the industry now struggles with plummeting sales and abandoned projects. Experts question whether the region’s reputation as a premier wine hub can recover amid economic pressures. The future of its vineyards—and the livelihoods they support—hangs in the balance.
People are drinking less. Vines are being ripped up. Winemakers are going bust. Can the Disneyland of wine survive the downturn?
