(Tricitiesbusinessnews) - While the quality of grapes and winemaking in Washington state remain world-class, the global glut of wine continues to cut into the industry’s bottom line.

Consumers stand to benefit, whenever shelter-in-place restrictions and pandemic-affected spending allow.

“The Washington grape market is suffering from a structural imbalance between supply and demand that will likely require substantial vineyard removals to rectify,” wine economist Christopher Bitter said during this year’s Washington Winegrowers Association convention in Kennewick.

The state’s 59,000 acres of vineyards are an indication of growth the Washington State Wine Commission has pointed to in recent years.