It comes as the wine industry is facing falling sales volumes.
Here are the morning’s top stories on Wednesday, June 17, 2026
- It’s been a tough time for the California wine industry because alcohol sales are dropping. But a growing number of Latino winemakers in Sonoma County hope to turn that tide.
- California lawmakers adopted a state budget on Monday. The legislature’s spending plan pushes back on some of Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed cuts.
- Shasta County supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday not to defend a voter-approved measure against a lawsuit filed by the state attorney general.
In a shifting wine market, Latino representation emerges as a powerful force
Overlooking the fields of Sonoma County vineyards in Kenwood, winemaker Salvador de La Cruz pours flavors from his new collection of Ludor Wines. Each glass is paired with a different food, yet these aren’t the typical crackers and cheese. Laid out in front of the glasses are refried beans, tortilla chips, pico de gallo and other tastes from his Mexican culture.
“Este, the Merlot, we’re doing it with refried beans,” De La Cruz tells Marinez and Mauricio Rosales, a couple who drove up from Hayward for a DIY tour of Latino-owned wineries. De La Cruz speaks to the couple in their 30s in both English and Spanish as he leads them through the tasting — the three of them all second-generation Latinos.
The Sonoma County winemaker wears a cowboy hat adorned with red, white and green feathers, showcasing the country of Mexico, where his inspiration for the cultural tasting experience comes from. “This is like the basics of what we already would have at our home and to see that with the wine pairing like that’s so new to me,” says Marinez as she bites into a chip topped with pico de gallo. “I’ve not seen this anywhere else. Ever.”…