Shutdown casts pall on effort to help Oregon winegrowers

TURNER, Ore. (AP) – Winegrowers in southern Oregon faced financial ruin after a California winemaker claimed wildfire smoke tainted their grapes and refused to buy them.

Now, the rejected fruit that was turned into wine by local vintners is facing another setback.

Getting the resulting Oregon wines to markets on time is in doubt because the federal agency that approves labels has a huge backlog from the government shutdown.

That’s emblematic of a wider national problem. Nationwide, makers of alcoholic drinks face disrupted business and lost revenue. If another shutdown starts in about two weeks, the backlog could persist.