Kern County wine vineyards shrink by thousands of acres as growers face market pressures

Kern County wine vineyards shrink by thousands of acres as growers face market pressures

Kern County wine-grape acreage has dropped 25% since 2020. Local growers say oversupply, weak demand and rising costs are forcing difficult decisions.

Kern County wine-grape acreage drops sharply amid market pressures - Dining and Cooking

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — The grapes are growing. The vines are healthy. But across Kern County, thousands of acres of wine-grape vineyards are being torn out anyway. County crop reports show wine-grape acreage has fallen from 25,250 acres in 2020 to 18,900 acres in 2024. Local growers say oversupply, weakening consumer demand and rising production [...]