Lodi Eye
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2025 Lodi Crush Report: Preliminary Numbers Are In
The USDA’s Preliminary 2025 California Grape Crush Report, released March 13, 2026, confirms that District 11 crushed 537,752 tons—13.3% below our August moderate forecast of 620,073 tons. Statewide, the crush fell 6.2% to 2,759,202 tons. But the headline numbers only begin to tell the story: a Zinfandel collapse, an explosion of table grapes diverted to crush, a cooler-than-normal growing season that delivered a potentially outstanding vintage, and a widening price gulf between coastal and interior regions are reshaping Lodi’s grape economy in real time.
The State of Sparkling Wine - January 2026
Rack & Riddle's January 2026 closing of its Lodi facility represents a strategic response to fundamental shifts in the sparkling wine market and broader wine industry headwinds. While sparkling wine remains the sole growth segment in an otherwise declining US wine market, the decision reflects regional competitive dynamics, production efficiency imperatives, and Lodi's particular vulnerability to structural challenges facing California's inland wine regions
The History of Zinfandel in Lodi: California's Zinfandel Capital
On October 15, 2025, the Lodi City Council officially proclaimed Lodi as the Zinfandel Capital of the World, acknowledging the region's historic vineyards and its production of a significant share of California's premium Zinfandel. This formal recognition solidifies what the region has long claimed, honoring over 150 years of winemaking heritage centered on America's most distinctive wine grape.
Tariffs and California Wine Exports
The 2025 tariffs have created unprecedented challenges for US wine exporters, with California accounting for 95% of US wine exports and facing an estimated $531 million in revenue losses. The Lodi region, representing approximately 8% of US wine exports, could potentiallly lose $45 million in export revenue, putting 850 jobs and 12,000 vineyard acres at risk