Washington’s wine grape production plummeted 28% in 2025, pushing wineries to reinvent how they attract and keep customers.
YAKIMA COUNTY, Wash. — Washington’s wine industry is facing one of its toughest years on record, and producers across the state are continuously looking for new ways to adapt.
“It’s been very hard on the industry, but I think we’re resilient,” said Kristina Kelley, executive director of the Washington State Wine Commission.
Kelley said rising costs, shifting consumer habits and a drop in tourism to wine country have all contributed to the downturn. In response, some producers are cutting back on certain varietals and moving toward aromatic whites, rosés and chillable reds — wines gaining traction with younger drinkers and health-conscious consumers watching their sugar intake.
“They’re cutting back in production, but they might be focusing on other wines that they know might appeal to a different demographic of consumers,” Kelley said.
The Washington State Wine Commission’s annual Grape Production Report showed 108,000 tons of wine grapes were harvested in 2025, down 28% from the previous year. Red varieties were hit especially hard, dropping 35%, while white varieties fell 20%. Cabernet Sauvignon, the state’s top variety, saw a 41% decline despite holding its position at the top, coming in at 24,063 tons. Chardonnay fell 17% to 17,911 tons.
Browne Family Vineyards’ Chief Marketing Officer Alex Evans said tasting rooms in wine country have felt the pinch more than those in the city.
“We’ve seen a bigger impact to our tasting rooms that are in wine country because tourism is down overall,” she said.
Browne’s Pioneer Square location has responded with new collaborations, including a unique partnership with Salt & Straw that pairs wine with ice cream floats and a tie-in with local glassware company Glassybaby. Some wineries are also introducing low- and no-alcohol options to broaden their appeal.
Kelley said consumer support of family-owned wineries will be critical to the industry’s recovery.
“Our wine is local, and we really need people to start asking for those products and purchasing those products, because that’s what’s going to turn around the situation that we’re in,” she said.
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