U.S. Wine Industry Faces Staggering Losses

0:00This is Corey, here with your quick two-minute update from Durham News today. The U.S. wine industry is hitting hard times with revenue plunging 21% since the start of the pandemic. That's a drop from $94 billion in 2020 to $74.3 billion in 2025. Sales volume also slipped to $329 million cases last year from $335.9 million the year before. Experts pinned the blame on shifting drinking habits. Baby boomers, the biggest wine drinkers, are cutting back as they age and their number shrink. Younger groups like Gen Z just aren't into wine as much as their parents were. Big players are feeling the squeeze with major closings announced this year. E and J Gallo, the largest U.S. wine company, plans to shut its ranch winery in St. Helena, California, laying off 56 workers by April 15th, 2026. They're also trimming staff at four other sites. Meanwhile, Jackson Family Wines, maker of 40 brands, will close its Carneros Hills winery

1:01in Sonoma, California, cutting 13 jobs by April 17th next year. Smaller operations are turning to bankruptcy for relief. Shron Vineyards in Kerman filed for Chapter 11 protection on February 23rd to reorganize and avoid an asset sale after defaulting on a $13 million loan. Alloria Vineyards in Valesteau followed suit the next day to keep running amid the downturn. This story is made possible by our sponsor. If sleep podcasts are your thing, this is your pillow. Built for comfort and calm, S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com