California Winery Shifts Focus to Dried Grape Snacks
The Wine RayZyn Co. converts wine grapes into snacks to combat oversaturation in the state wine market.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Wine
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Would you buy food products made from repurposed wine grapes to reduce industry waste?
As California grape growers face declining demand and market oversaturation, entrepreneur Andrew Cates is processing wine grapes into dried snacks. His company, The Wine RayZyn Co., seeks to create a secondary market for cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay, and merlot grapes.
Why it matters
The venture aims to reduce agricultural waste during a period where California wineries are dealing with lower grape prices and stagnant demand. By diversifying into food products, the company hopes to provide an alternative outlet for growers struggling with the industry's current surplus.
California wineries crushed 2.62 million tons of grapes in 2025, while average red wine grape prices fell 4.4% compared to the prior year. The Wine RayZyn Co. has processed over 1,000 tons of grapes for snacks since its inception in 2014.
The players
Andrew Cates
He is the entrepreneur and founder of The Wine RayZyn Co. who previously owned the Segassia Vineyard.
The Wine RayZyn Co.
This company processes wine grapes into dried food snacks to utilize surplus supply from the California wine industry.
The details
The company processes grapes at facilities in Colusa County and Oregon, coating them in chocolate, caramel, or Greek yogurt to sell as food. Cates intends to harvest 1,000 tons of grapes next year, though the company will likely not process new grapes for the remainder of this year.
Timeline
Andrew Cates purchased the Segassia Vineyard in 2012.
The Wine RayZyn Co. was founded in 2014.
Andrew Cates sold the Segassia Vineyard property in 2024.
California wineries crushed 2.62 million tons of grapes in 2025.
A multi-million dollar investment for the company fell through in 2026.
Culture Shift
This pivot reflects a broader transition among California producers struggling with market oversaturation and shifting consumer preferences. By repurposing wine grapes as snack foods, the venture represents a pragmatic response to the declining demand currently impacting the national wine market.
Consumers can find these wine grape snacks online for $29.99 per 12-pack of the plain variety. Adopting this product as a snack requires a departure from standard dried fruit habits, with potential long-term availability depending on the company's ability to navigate recent financial setbacks.
The takeaway
This trend illustrates how agricultural producers are diversifying their portfolios to survive periods of market volatility. Consumers may see more wine-adjacent snack products entering the market as companies continue to seek new ways to utilize excess grape harvests.
Further reading
For more on the industry trends impacting the region, visit the Wine section.
More information
To browse available products, visit the Wine RayZyn product purchase website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Tribune.
Live Poll
Would you buy food products made from repurposed wine grapes to reduce industry waste?
