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Over half of the South Livermore Valley’s vineyard acres has been removed during the last several years due to the aging of vines.
Following the customary years of leaving soil fallow, growers face the financial question of whether to replant their fields during a challenging period for the wine industry.
Among the organizations taking on the issue of pulling and replanting vines are local land trust Tri-Valley Conservancy and the Livermore Valley Wine Community, which recently seated its new Board of Directors for 2026-27.
In an effort to address questions and concerns about the growing acreage of fallow fields, TVC hosted a public forum Feb. 10 dubbed, “What’s Happening in South Livermore’s Vineyards?”
“The vineyards have been coming out for a while and they’re going to continue to come out in a fairly substantial way,” said David Kent, owner of Darcie Kent Winery and Almost Famous Wine Co. “The real question that our community faces is not if a vineyard is going to be pulled, because it’s inevitable — they’re going to be pulled — but whether or not that vineyard will ever be replanted.”
The community’s concern about vine removal is apparent, Kent said to a crowd more than 100 forum attendees at the Robert Livermore Community Center.
It’s sad to see friends and neighbors pull out vineyards, Kent acknowledged.
But it’s important to note that every 20 to 40 years, old vines must be removed, he explained. At that point, the land must be left fallow to give the soil time to regenerate.
According to a 2022 study by UC Davis professors James T. Lapsley and Daniel A. Sumner, “Realizing the Heritage: Grape Growing and Winemaking in the Livermore Valley”, approximately two-thirds of the area’s vineyard acres were at least 20 years old and would either be removed or replaced by 2030.
Of the expected removal of 1,900 acres, about 1,500 acres were planted as mitigation to build housing at the time — the mitigating vines would likely not be replanted unless demand increased significantly for the grapes, Kent explained.
“The report has proven very accurate,” Kent told Livermore Vine.
According to Kent, about 300 acres have been removed annually from production since the study was published, leaving approximately 1,900 acres of wine grapes. Over the next three to five years, Kent expects the additional removal of about 500 acres.
Despite the removal of vines, the South Livermore Valley wine region is fairing better than the industry at-large.
While the wine industry has seen a 9% to 21% decline, the local region is down by about 2.81%, according to Brandi Lombardi, executive director of the LVWC.
“There’s ups and downs, all the time, in every industry,” Lombardi said at the forum. “We are definitely on a down, but in that, it gives us the chance to plan … for the stabilization and for the future.”
About 50 years ago, the area hosted about 1,000 acres of vineyards, according to Kent.
Within a few decades, the area hosted about 4,000 acres of vineyards thanks in part to land preservation guaranteed by the South Livermore Valley Area Plan.
At the time, the region was focused on meeting the short-term needs of out-of-area winemakers rather than growing the most suitable agriculture in the valley, according to Kent. Meanwhile out-of-area winemakers were planting vines closer to their production facilities.
As outside demand declined, the Livermore Valley was left with an excess of grapes without sufficient processing ability, Kent said.
“We didn’t prepare for the days when they wouldn’t need our grapes anymore,” Kent said.
As early as 2002, Kent said cracks began to show in the local wine industry with the slowing of planting and the stalling price of grapes.
Now in 2026, with a new emphasis on growing the area’s signature varietals Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, the goal is to attract external demand for Livermore’s grapes, Kent said.
He also noted, “It’s a very difficult time to borrow money to plant vineyards.”
“Don’t expect any vineyards to be replanted in the first two or three years after they’re been pulled … After that, it’s really going to be a determination of the market,” Kent said.
“Interest rates need to come down, the industry needs to be stronger and there needs to be traction behind Cab Franc and Sauvignon Blanc to get a lot of these open fields replanted,” Kent added.
Since 2021, about 100 acres of the signature varietals have been planted in the area, according to Kent.
Among those providing help to growers is TVC.
The organization offers a low-interest loan for the planting of the Livermore Valley’s signature varietals.
Voters’ approval of Measure P, the South Livermore Sewer Extension Project, in November 2022 also makes way for the potential development of a resort hotel in the area to host tourists, Kent said.
“I wish we’d started sooner, but we’re absolutely on the right path to making Livermore Valley a sustainable and economically feasible wine country,” he added.
As for LVWC’s plan, Lombardi said the organization aims to increase visitation to the Livermore Valley and to promote the area’s grapes.
The newly appointed LVWC Board President Ken Wong can offer his unique perspective to the organization as a grower, she explained.
HLW Vineyard owner Wong was sworn in Jan. 15, taking over for Gina Molinaro-Cardera of Garré Vineyard & Winery.
Wong launched his vineyard in 2005 with no formal background in the wine industry, later earning a winemaking certificate through UC Davis continuing and professional education program, he told Livermore Vine.
Wong aims to elevate the visibility and reputation of Livermore Valley’s wine, advance sustainability across the wine region and maintain collaboration between members of the organization, he told Livermore Vine.
Focusing on local unity is one of the methods Wong intends to deploy.
The wine heritage district has helped with marketing to the general public, he explained. The Global Artisan Vintners Alliance, a collaboration between wine regions across the globe, is another way to continue to promote the area’s wine.
Further goals of the organization will be hashed out with the newly seated board this spring, he added.
Board members of LVWC for 2026-27 include vice president Karl Wente of Wente Vineyards, treasurer Heather McGrail of McGrail Vineyards and Winery, secretary Darcie Kent of Darcie Kent Estate Winery, affiliate Director Ian O’Leary of Spirited Packaging, affiliate director Brandon Wood of The Cheese Parlor, director Rosa Fierro of Rosa Fierro Cellars, director Beth Murray Mirassou of The Steven Kent Winery, director Bob Pruett of Pruett Estate Farms, director Heidi Rasmussen of Concannon Vineyard, director Harrison Wood of Wood Family Vineyards and director Steve Ziganti of 3 Steves Winery.
LVWC held its own meeting about the removal of vines Feb. 17.
The organization is also hosting community events next month such as “Terroir at the Table – A Celebration of Women, Wine, and Community” (March 7), “Women Who Crush It: A Women’s Wine Collective Event” (March 24) and the annual Livermore Valley Barrel Weekend (March 28).
“As hard as it is in the marketplace, we’re going to try to better position ourselves to try to gain market share as well,” Wong said. “It’s kind of a tall order, but at the same time, if we do it correctly, this could be a good opportunity for us.”
