Lodi wine industry still facing challenges, hoping for a boost in sales this holiday season

CALIFORNIA WINEMAKERS IS ABOUT TO WRAP UP. AND THERE’S ONE LAST HOPE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. KCRA 3’S MARICELA DE LA CRUZ HEARD ABOUT HOW NEXT WEEK COULD BE A GOOD ONE FOR SMALL WINERIES. FROM FIRST GLANCE, YOU COULD SAY THAT JEREMY TREVITHICK HAS PERFECTED HIS WINE POUR. BUT IN THE 14 YEARS SINCE HE OPENED HIS LODI WINERY, HE AND OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY ARE STILL HOPEFUL ABOUT A WINE COMEBACK. I WOULD SAY WE’RE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC AT THIS POINT. I YOU KNOW, WE’RE JUST HOPING THAT THAT WE SEE SOME STABILITY IN THE NUMBERS GOING INTO NEXT YEAR AND THAT WE’RE CONTINUING TO SEE THE TOURISM TRAFFIC THAT WE’VE KIND OF BUILT OUR BUSINESS. AND THE LODI COMMUNITY ON OVER THE LAST YEAR. VINTNERS AND GROWERS HAVE SEEN A SALES DECLINE. THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WE FACE IS IT’S A GLOBALLY A SLOWDOWN IN WINE SALES AND AN OVERSUPPLY THAT HAS REALLY PINCHED THE MARGINS OF MOST. AND THE COST OF DOING BUSINESS IN CALIFORNIA HAS MADE IT REALLY CHALLENGING. EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE REPORTED HOW SOME LODI WINE GRAPE GROWERS WERE MOVING VINEYARDS IN RESPONSE TO THE SURPLUS OF GRAPES AND LITTLE TO NO SALES OF THE FRUIT. SO WHY WOULD A FARMER LEAVE THE GRAPES ON THE VINE INSTEAD OF HARVESTING THEM? WHEN WE SPEAK TO THE CHALLENGES THIS YEAR? WE DIDN’T SELL ALL OF OUR SYRAH. SO. SO THIS YEAR WE HAVE TO DO A TERM CALLED DROP FRUIT WHERE WE’LL WE’LL CUT IT OFF THE VINE BECAUSE IT’S NOT SOLD AS 2024 WRAPS UP AND WINERIES FACE ANOTHER SLOW PERIOD. THEY’RE PINNING THEIR HOPES ON THE HEART OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON AS WE MOVE INTO, YOU KNOW, CHRISTMAS AND JANUARY. IT’S USUALLY ONE OF THE SLOWEST TIMES OF THE YEAR, BUT IT’S ALSO ONE OF THE BEST TIMES TO COME VISIT. AFTER ALL, EVERY GLASS AND EVERY SIP SUPPORTS THE COMMUNITY. IF YOU’RE BUYING A BOTTLE OF WINE FROM US OR OUR PEERS, MOST OF US ARE VERY SMALL, FAMILY OWNED WINERIES. THIS IS OWNED BY MYSELF AND MY WIFE. WE STARTED IT FROM A VERY, VERY TINY WINERY, AND EVERY DOLLAR THAT YOU GUYS ARE SPENDING WITH US, WE’RE SPENDING RIGHT BACK IN OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH WAGES IN LODI MARICELA DE LA CRUZ KCRA THREE NEWS. CALIFORNIA’S WINE INDUSTRY

It's been a challenging year for winemakers, not only in California but across the globe – as vintners and winegrape growers have seen a sales decline."The biggest challenges we face is a global slowdown in sales and an oversupply that has really pinched the margins of most, and the cost of doing business in California has made it really challenging," said Stuart Spencer from the Lodi Winegrape Commission.This year, the slow summer sales have extended. "As we move into Christmas and January – it's usually one of the slowest times of the year, but it's also one of best times to come visit" Spencer added.Earlier this year, KCRA 3 reported how some Lodi grape growers were removing vineyards in response to the surplus of wine grapes and little to no fruit sales.Those who chose not to rip out their vineyards but were unable to sell their products had no choice but to leave their grapes on the vine."When we speak to the challenges this year.. we didn't sell all of our Syrah, so this year, we have to do a term called 'drop fruit' where we'll cut it off the vine because it's not sold," said Riche Decola from Bokisch Vineyards.Bokisch has 85 acres of vineyards at their winery and other properties.As 2024 wraps up and wineries face another slow period, they're pinning their hopes on the "heart" of the holiday season."I would say we're cautiously optimistic at this point. We're just hoping that we see some stability in the number going into next year and that we're continuing to see the tourism traffic that we've kind of built our business and lot of community on," added Jeremy Trettevik from Jeremy Wine.After all, every glass and every sip supports the local economy."If you're buying a bottle of wine from us or our peers, most of us are very small, family-owned wineries. This is owned by myself and my wife," White said. "We started it from a very, very tiny winery. And every dollar that you guys are spending with us, we're spending right back in our community through wages."See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter

LODI, Calif. —

It's been a challenging year for winemakers, not only in California but across the globe – as vintners and winegrape growers have seen a sales decline.

"The biggest challenges we face is a global slowdown in sales and an oversupply that has really pinched the margins of most, and the cost of doing business in California has made it really challenging," said Stuart Spencer from the Lodi Winegrape Commission.

This year, the slow summer sales have extended.

"As we move into Christmas and January – it's usually one of the slowest times of the year, but it's also one of best times to come visit" Spencer added.

Earlier this year, KCRA 3 reported how some Lodi grape growers were removing vineyards in response to the surplus of wine grapes and little to no fruit sales.

Those who chose not to rip out their vineyards but were unable to sell their products had no choice but to leave their grapes on the vine.

"When we speak to the challenges this year.. we didn't sell all of our Syrah, so this year, we have to do a term called 'drop fruit' where we'll cut it off the vine because it's not sold," said Riche Decola from Bokisch Vineyards.

Bokisch has 85 acres of vineyards at their winery and other properties.

As 2024 wraps up and wineries face another slow period, they're pinning their hopes on the "heart" of the holiday season.

"I would say we're cautiously optimistic at this point. We're just hoping that we see some stability in the number going into next year and that we're continuing to see the tourism traffic that we've kind of built our business and lot of community on," added Jeremy Trettevik from Jeremy Wine.

After all, every glass and every sip supports the local economy.

"If you're buying a bottle of wine from us or our peers, most of us are very small, family-owned wineries. This is owned by myself and my wife," White said. "We started it from a very, very tiny winery. And every dollar that you guys are spending with us, we're spending right back in our community through wages."

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter

Lodi wine industry still facing challenges, hoping for a boost in sales this holiday season

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