California Firm Turns Wine Grapes Into Raisins
The Wine RayZyn Co. processes excess grapes into dried snacks to help address industry-wide market saturation.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Wine
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The Wine RayZyn Co. is repurposing surplus wine grapes by processing them into fiber-rich raisins. The initiative provides a secondary market for growers facing declining consumer demand and an oversaturated wine market.
Why it matters
By drying grapes—including those affected by wildfire smoke-taint—into snacks, the company aims to reduce agricultural waste. This provides a creative outlet for growers struggling with the broader downturn in the California wine industry.
California wineries crushed 2.62 million tons of grapes in 2025, marking an 8% volume decline from the prior year. During this period, red wine grape prices fell by 4.4% while white wine grape prices dropped by 0.9%.
The players
Andrew Cates
He is the founder of The Wine RayZyn Co. who previously owned the Segassia Vineyard in Napa Valley.
The Wine RayZyn Co.
This company processes wine grapes into snack raisins to reduce fruit waste for growers.
The details
The company processes cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and merlot grapes at facilities located in Colusa County and Oregon. The process allows growers to salvage harvests that would otherwise be discarded due to market oversupply or environmental factors like smoke.
Timeline
Andrew Cates purchased the Segassia Vineyard property in 2012.
The Wine RayZyn Co. was established in 2014.
Investors provided $2.5 million in funding to the company in 2016.
Grape prices and harvest volumes saw a decrease from 2024 to 2025.
Wineries across California crushed 2.62 million tons of grapes in 2025.
Culture Shift
This venture represents a pivot toward sustainable agriculture as producers attempt to mitigate the impacts of the 2025 California wine grape crush volume decline. It reflects a broader shift in the agricultural sector as growers move away from traditional wine production to address supply gluts.
Consumers looking for sustainable snack alternatives may see these raisin products stocked in stores as the company seeks to utilize its processed inventory. Growers in the region gain an additional outlet for grapes, potentially helping to stabilize revenue in a difficult market.
The takeaway
This initiative offers a practical example of how agricultural sectors can adapt to fluctuating market demand and environmental challenges. By diversifying product lines, growers may find ways to sustain operations despite the current volatility in grape pricing.
Further reading
Learn more about the current state of the industry on our Wine page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Fresno Bee.
Live Poll
Would you purchase snack products made from wine grapes instead of traditional table grape varieties?
