Unless you’ve been living in cave for the last two years, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that wine shipments from California dropped in 2009.   What is more remarkable, is that it’s the first decrease in 16 years!  Wine sales dropped 1.6% from the year prior, according to statistics.  The trend seemed to follow the national trend that consumers turned away from wines priced $15 or greater while eager to purchase lower priced wines, especially those at less that $6.  Competition from international markets such as Australia, Chile and Argentina placed pricing pressure on wine sales from California as well.

Tags: California