Digest #19

‘Definitely not doom and gloom’ for Champagne sales in UK

Champagne sales in the UK are showing encouraging resilience in 2025, with Louis Roederer reporting a 9% jump in volume sales compared to a 6% decline the previous year. While premium expressions like vintage Champagnes have softened, the solid performance of standard Brut non-vintage bottles and pricing stability are keeping the category buoyant, even as producers navigate rising costs from new EPR packaging rules and higher grape prices. The market is shifting focus from chasing high values to driving volume, with retail rather than hospitality leading the recent growth.

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Why English Wine Should Stay Small

An interesting take on English wine's future growth. Rather than chasing mass-market expansion, the argument here is that keeping production smaller might actually protect the quality and distinctiveness that's made English wine successful in recent years. It's a debate that's becoming increasingly relevant as the industry matures.

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WineGB Accelerates Sustainability Drive with Relaunch of National Certification for UK Wine 

WineGB has relaunched its Sustainable Wines of Great Britain certification scheme, now covering 43% of UK planted vineyards. The refreshed programme includes a brand new focus on social sustainability, recognising the importance of workforce wellbeing, skills development, and responsible employment practices alongside environmental commitments. With 79 members already signed up, the scheme demonstrates how the UK wine industry is embedding sustainability at its core and working to attract and retain talent in the sector.

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The Winemaker’s Pub

Balfour Winery has opened The Winemaker's Pub in the charming village of Goudhurst, bringing vineyard hospitality directly to locals and visitors. This new venture bridges the gap between winery and community by combining English wine with traditional British cooking in a village pub setting, making quality English wine more accessible and integrated into everyday hospitality.

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‘We’ve spent £700,000 developing the app’: Virgin Wines bets on mobile retail

Virgin Wines has launched a new mobile app after investing £700,000 and nearly a year of development work, marking a major shift in the company's digital strategy. Available on iOS and Android, the app offers personalised features like a digital wine cellar, enhanced recommendations and targeted notifications to make buying wine easier on smartphones. According to CEO Jay Wright, the investment reflects how younger consumers increasingly shop via apps, and the company hopes the streamlined experience will attract new customers whilst keeping existing ones loyal.

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Germany's Wine Production Drops to Lowest Level Since 2017 After Heavy Rainfall Disrupts Harvest

Germany's wine harvest has hit its lowest production level in seven years following heavy rainfall that disrupted the picking season. This significant drop in output will likely have knock-on effects for European wine supplies and pricing across the continent. Climate challenges continue to reshape European wine production patterns, affecting both producers and consumers.

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Flavescence dorée: Champagne and Loire at high risk - Fines for winemakers who refuse inspections

Flavescence dorée continues to spread across Champagne and the Loire Valley, with 66 municipalities now affected by the vine pest. Winemakers in the Loire are now required to participate in official inspections, and those who refuse face financial penalties, marking a tougher regulatory stance on controlling the disease's spread.

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Chablis Winegrowers Race to Save Vineyards as Severe Frost Strikes Early Budding Vines

Chablis vineyards are facing an urgent crisis as early spring frost threatens newly budded vines across the prestigious French region. Winegrowers are racing to implement frost protection measures to save their crops, highlighting the increasing vulnerability of wine production to unpredictable weather patterns. This could have significant implications for Chablis wine availability and pricing in the coming season.

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‘A Huge Market But We’re Still Small’: Why Portuguese Wine Is Struggling To Crack China

Portuguese wines are struggling to gain traction in China despite the country's massive potential, with ViniPortugal now stepping up efforts to build awareness amongst Chinese drinkers. The industry body is banking on Portugal's reputation for quality and value to finally break through in a market they've historically underperformed in. With China's wine market showing signs of recovery, Portugal's diverse wine offerings could be well-positioned to capture a growing segment of newly interested consumers.

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Porto’s Famed Factory House Opens to the Public After 236 Years Offering Visitors Rare Access to the Authentic Infrastructure of Porto’s Wine Heritage

Porto's historic Factory House, a cornerstone of the port wine trade for over two centuries, has opened its doors to public visitors for the first time. This exclusive access lets people explore the authentic infrastructure and heritage that's shaped Porto's world-renowned wine industry. It's a rare opportunity to experience the real story behind one of Europe's most celebrated wine regions.

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Old Vine Registry Records More Than 10,000 Entries - Milestone for Global Database of Old Vines

The Old Vine Registry has passed a major milestone, recording over 10,000 vineyards with vines aged 35 years or older across 42 countries and nearly 43,000 hectares. The project, founded by wine critic Jancis Robinson and others in 2023, is expanding far faster than originally anticipated, reaching a target that wasn't due until 2027. Germany and Austria are well represented with 337 and 51 vineyard entries respectively, whilst the International Organisation of Vine and Wine has now officially standardised what constitutes 'old vines' for classification purposes.

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Alcohol suffers global downturn in 2025

Global beverage alcohol sales are facing a downturn in 2025, with preliminary data from IWSR pointing to high inflation, political instability, and international conflicts as key culprits. Whilst this covers the broader alcohol market rather than wine specifically, the pressures affecting spirits and beer are likely to shape wine consumption and trading conditions in the UK and EU as well. Understanding these wider market forces helps explain what's happening in your local wine shop or vineyard.

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Trump’s Tariffs Drive Up US Wine Prices, Menus Shift in 2025

US wine prices are climbing due to new tariffs, and restaurant wine menus are being redesigned as a result. This shift in America's wine market could have ripple effects for European producers looking to export to the US, making it worth watching as trade policies continue to evolve in 2025.

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Call for entries: The Global Organic & Vegan Wine Masters 2026

The Drinks Business is now accepting entries for the Global Organic and Vegan Wine Masters 2026, a competition celebrating one of the wine industry's fastest-growing segments. Wines will be judged by style and price across all organic and vegan categories, with medals awarded by an expert panel of Masters of Wine and senior buyers. It's a great opportunity for producers to gain international recognition and showcase wines that meet rising demand for sustainable, transparent production.

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1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Breaks Record for Most Expensive Bottle of Wine Sold at Auction

A bottle of 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti has shattered the auction record for the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold. This exceptional Burgundy vintage from the final year of World War II represents both the rarity of the vintage and the continued investment appeal of top-tier French wines among collectors worldwide.

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