Five Lake County winery licenses have lapsed since June, leaving 38, state records show. Lake grape prices fell 38% in two years, far more than in Mendocino, Sonoma or Napa.
Roger Coryell / Wine Country Gazette
Wine & Agriculture
Sonoma County wine industry, vineyards, farming, agricultural business, and food production news.
Photo by Lark Coryell
Vintage Premiere Dinner at Robert Mondavi Winery
Robert Mondavi Winery welcomed guests back to its Oakville estate Saturday for its 2026 Vintage Premiere dinner. It was the first edition of the annual celebration held at the winery since a three-year renovation, and it came as Mondavi marks 60 years since its founding. Guests had a chance to explore the grounds before sitting…
Jonathan Walters, winemaker and vineyard manager at Brassfield Estate Winery in Lake County. (Courtesy Brassfield Estate Winery)
At Brassfield, a Lake County estate pushes its chips in while the market pulls back
While much of the California wine business pulls vines and trims payroll, Brassfield Estate Winery has spent the downturn buying land and hiring salespeople, betting on an estate model almost nobody else still runs.
Gretchen / Adobe Stock
Sonoma County’s earliest harvest in decades begins
Sonoma County’s 2026 winegrape harvest began July 16, nearly two weeks earlier than any start the county’s growers association has documented. The crop is light, and growers say that is the point.
Grand jury gives Sonoma’s open-space agency a clean review — and flags a 2031 cliff
The civil grand jury gives Sonoma County’s open-space agency a clean review — and flags the 2031 expiration of the tax that funds it.
Photo courtesy Robledo Family Winery
Sonoma’s first Mexican American family winery is in bankruptcy court
Robledo Family Winery, Sonoma’s first Mexican American family winery, files for bankruptcy in California wine’s worst quarter in years.
Photo courtesy City of Cloverdale
Cloverdale’s own water plan says the city doesn’t need the Eel River dams its vice mayor is fighting to save
Cloverdale’s vice mayor is lobbying Washington to save the Eel River dams. The city’s own water plan says Cloverdale doesn’t need them.