Steve Amato, a Hopland grower, is struggling to maintain his 38-acre cabernet vineyard amid a wine industry crisis, with many neighboring vineyards abandoned due to financial losses. Key facts: AB 732 allows fines of $500 per acre for neglected vineyards, but no fines have been issued yet in Mendocino County.
Some growers haven't sold a crop in 3-4 years, and removing a vineyard costs $40,000-$50,000 per 10 acres. The glassy-winged sharpshooter pest threatens untended blocks.
Amato calls for grants and workshops instead of just enforcement. The crisis reflects a cultural shift in the wine market, with oversupply and changing consumer tastes.