Enologists

Job growth is tied to the size and quality of grape harvests, the success of wine production, and the foreign and domestic demand for American wines. In 2022, there were 11,691 wineries in the United States, and the industry has grown at a rate of 4 percent since 2019. As stated by Wine Business Monthly, "The sustained growth of wineries, through the pandemic and associated economic turmoil, is encouraging..." U.S. wine sales have been rising the past few years, growing from $73 billion in 2018 to $107 billion in 2023, representing a 46 percent increase, according to the 2024 BMO Wine Market Report.

However, it is impossible to predict weather and soil conditions from season to season and there is little security, especially for smaller wine producers. There is stiff competition in the wine business and there have been a number of consolidations and mergers in the past few years. Still, new brands continue to be introduced with strong marketing campaigns, particularly in the lower- and mid-priced categories. Technological advances in wine production may create more job opportunities.

Job opportunities will be best in California, where most of the U.S. wineries are located. Most California wine is cultivated in the San Joaquin, Napa, and Sonoma valleys, the central coast, Monterey Bay area, and the Sierra foothills. According to Wine Business Monthly, other states with a large number of wineries in 2022 included Oregon (908), Washington (906), New York (453), Pennsylvania (393), and Virginia (356).