Millennials are taking over the wine industry, largely because of their preferences.

Millennials, who are often described as those 34 years old and younger, grew up with baby boomer parents who were the first generation to drink premium wines, according to a survey conducted by UC Davis. Now, millennials who are of drinking age are becoming a larger part of the wine industry. According to UC Davis, millennials prefer “premium brands, convenience and taste trends like red blends, light whites and sparkling wines.”

Robert Smiley is a professor and dean emeritus of the UC Davis Graduate School of Management.

“The wine industry has clearly been energized by the millennial generation,” Smiley said on the UC Davis website. “These are young people whose grandparents mostly drank spirits and whose parents were the first generation to regularly bring wine to the dinner table.”

If you are a millennial living in California and enjoy wine, then you are in the right spot. Shipments of California wines hit a retail value of $31.9 billion in 2015 and the number of cases shipped from California reached an all-time high in 2015 (229 million cases shipped to the U.S.)

And if you are looking for premium wines, Mt. Vernon has you covered! Our winery has been named the Best Winery for 13 years in a row by the Auburn Journal! In 2016, Mt. Vernon Winery also was named “Best Local Red Wine”, “Best Local White Wine”, and “Best Wine Maker”. We offer a variety of red blends and have 16 to 18 fabulous wines available for tasting.

Mt. Vernon Winery is pioneering the production of many foothill grapes including Old-Vine Zinfandel, Syrah, Port, Barbera, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and barrel-fermented Chardonnay. We believe our winery offers the true California wine experience through a majestic view and relaxing atmosphere. Take a virtual tour of our tasting room to see for yourself!