Consolidation has put small and medium-sized wineries in a vise. Climate change and soaring real estate prices have tightened the screws. Cult labels, of course, will do just fine, but the small-batch winemakers who may make a great product, but don't have international acclaim, may struggle.

Meanwhile, the market for wine drinkers continues to grow just as circumstances conspire to make it more difficult for them to snag what they want. Which, by the way, is still primarily wine made by families who grow their own grapes in lauded, classic wine-making regions.