The oldest family-owned winery in California has filed for bankruptcy and is looking to sell — a heartbreaking situation that stems from multiple financial burdens that began with the COVID pandemic.
asserted
that → own → pandemic
Gundlach Bundschu, which has existed in Sonoma County, California, since 1858, has been struggling since 2020, when the industry was hit by a slowdown during the pandemic and never fully recovered, according to the LA Times.
uncertain
industry → exist → Times
Now, the owners are filing for Chapter 11.
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owners → file → Chapter
This is not the first California winery to close recently.
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This → close → ?
Numerous vineyards have shuttered because of tariffs, wildfires, and lack of demand.
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vineyards → shutter → demand
This latest institutional closure reflects the pressures being felt across the Californian wine business.
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closure → reflect → business
“When you become the kind of institution that Gundlach Bundschu has become in our community, it’s as much about all the people that are involved, and everybody who works there sort of has a spirit of caretaking,” said Jeff Bundschu, a member of the founding family and president of the winery.
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Bundschu → become → winery
“It’s almost more important than who owns it.
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who → ’ → it
The winery is looking for a new owner for the first time in six generations of Bundschu ownership, though the family is hoping to remain involved in operations.
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family → look → operations
One factor that has been especially felt by the business is a sharp decline in exports to Canada following President Donald Trump’s trade war.
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that → feel → war
The tariffs implemented by the President against Canadian goods, which were then matched by Canada, resulted in a Canadian boycott of American alcohol.
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which → implement → alcohol
One central Californian winery, McManis Family Vineyards, previously sent 40 percent of its exports to Canada.
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winery → send → Canada
That number has fallen precipitously to just 5 percent.
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number → fall → percent
McManis Family Vineyards is now having to sell off 3,500 acres of property covered by ten vineyards and its sprawling winery in Ripon, about 50 miles east of San Francisco.
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Vineyards → have → Francisco
“It was a very hard decision for myself and my family,” vineyard president and co-owner Ron McManis told The Sacramento Bee.
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McManis → tell → Bee
California has also been hit by a series of lethal wildfires since early 2025, which piled more debt onto wine businesses.
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which → hit → businesses
It’s not just small businesses being impacted by these compounding events.
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businesses → ’ → events
Constellation Brands, the company that owns Modelo and Corona beers as well as Mission Bell Winery in Madera, California, is planning to lay off 212 employees at the winery in a shift to beer.
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that → own → beer
Gallo Winery, which has an annual financial turnaround in the billions, is planning to lay off 90 employees by January 2027 and will be closing a facility in Napa Valley.
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which → have → Valley
Americans are also drinking less than ever before.
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Americans → drink → less
According to Gallup polling from 2025, only 54 percent of Americans say that they consume alcohol.
uncertain
they → accord → alcohol
This is the lowest recorded percentage of drinkers in 90 years.
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This → record → years
Gallup pollsters believe it is largely down to Americans, and particularly young Americans, aiming to be more health-conscious.
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it → believe → Americans
Although the winery is filing for bankruptcy, Gundlach Bundschu is still open for business amid the management changeover.
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Bundschu → file → changeover
“I need to reiterate 1,000 times, we’re wide open,” Bundschu told the LA Times.
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Bundschu → need → Times
“Any visitors to the place won’t know a difference.”
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visitors → know → difference
The Aporia
