Under the Hood: Napa’s Vineyard Downturn Reaches the Ground
By Tim Carl
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“What happened in 2025 is that there were fewer acres, and the price fell anyway.” — Tim Carl
The Spotlight:
Welcome to Under the Hood, our exclusive weekly series for Napa Valley Features paid subscribers.
Summary of Today’s Article: Napa County’s 2025 crop report shows a downturn that cut both wine grape acreage and average prices, a combination not seen in the report’s earlier corrections. Bearing acreage fell by 3,030 acres as wine grape value dropped by $62.3 million, with cabernet sauvignon accounting for nearly three-quarters of the decline. Some removed acreage is being replanted, but every major variety lost ground and all but merlot lost price. The report also shows how current vineyard contraction sits uneasily beside economic impact figures built on 2022 data.
Beyond today’s discussion, we’re also digging into the latest results from our reader polls and pulling a few takeaways from our local economic dashboard.
Editor’s note: Read about Schramsberg’s recent blessing of the grapes at Calistoga Currents.
