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As the wine industry approaches a decade since Brexit, Harpers Wine & Spirit has gathered reflections from key players on how the sector has adapted to the seismic shift. The piece explores the lasting regulatory, trade, and market challenges UK wine professionals have navigated since the referendum, offering valuable perspective on where the industry stands today.
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Wales' wine industry is celebrating impressive growth with ambitious plans to reach a ÂŁ100 million market value. The expansion reflects how changing climate conditions are opening up new winemaking opportunities across the UK, positioning Welsh producers as a growing force in British viticulture.
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The UK's alcoholic drinks market is booming as consumers increasingly trade up to premium options and embrace craft beverages. This shift in drinking preferences is reshaping how the industry operates, with premiumization becoming a key driver of growth across wine and spirits categories.
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Lidl is launching the first Asti Rosé in the UK this summer, following the introduction of a new rosé category within Italy's prestigious Asti DOCG earlier this year. The move aims to breathe new life into Asti, which has seen global sales drop 9% in 2025 and struggled to appeal to younger drinkers who often dismiss it as old-fashioned. Partnering with Italian producer Fratelli Martini, the supermarket hopes the new rosé style will help change perceptions of the denomination and show that sweet sparkling wines deserve a second look.
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Britain's alcohol industry is bracing for tougher times ahead, according to industry analysis from Vinetur. The report suggests the sector faces a period of economic constraint that could reshape how producers, distributors, and retailers operate. If you're involved in the UK wine business, this broader alcohol industry outlook deserves your attention.
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The EU's top court has upheld a ban preventing alcoholic drinks above 1.2% alcohol by volume from making health claims. This ruling means wine producers across the EU can't market their products with health benefits on labels or in advertising, reinforcing strict regulations around how alcohol is promoted to consumers.
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The WHO's European office made waves in January 2023 by declaring there's 'no safe level' of alcohol consumption, a dramatic shift from its previous stance on 'harmful use'. But according to industry analysis, this change wasn't driven by new scientific discoveries, it's the result of lobbying by public health groups and NGOs pushing for stricter language. The article explores how the narrative around alcohol has tightened over the past decade and what that means for how wine and other drinks are regulated and discussed across Europe.
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Sparkling wine giant Henkell-Freixenet is in talks to buy a majority stake in Maison Pommery, one of Champagne's top three houses. The acquisition would represent a significant consolidation in the champagne sector, bringing one of France's most prestigious producers under German ownership and expanding the global leader's portfolio even further.
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González Byass is releasing part of its historic bottle collection through Christie's in a rare auction event, offering bottles that have never been sold to the public before. The archive, preserved since the Jerez bodega's founding in 1835, includes exceptional vintages dating back to 1846 and rare sherries like Viña Amorosa 1911 and several Matusalems from the early 1900s. The sale runs from 5-19 June online, giving collectors a unique opportunity to acquire these impeccably provenance wines with genuine historical significance.
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Deutsche Bahn has expanded its alcohol ban to seven major German train stations, a move that's likely to affect wine sales in these key travel hubs. This regulatory shift reflects broader European trends around alcohol restrictions in public transport settings and could signal similar policy changes at other major EU stations. For the wine industry, it's another consideration for distribution strategies and retail partnerships, particularly around travel retail channels.
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Researchers at UC Davis have discovered that gray mold, one of the wine industry's most persistent fungal problems, adapts differently depending on which crop it's infecting. This finding is particularly relevant for vineyard managers across Europe and the UK, as it suggests that one-size-fits-all fungicide strategies might need updating. Understanding how the fungus evolves could help growers develop more targeted, sustainable approaches to protecting their vines from this costly disease.
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Artificial intelligence is transforming how alcohol producers develop and create drinks, and the wine industry is no exception. From flavour profiling to recipe optimisation, winemakers are using AI tools to innovate faster and respond to changing consumer preferences. This tech-driven shift could reshape how wines are made and marketed across the industry.
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As temperatures shift, wine producers face a critical choice about their future. They can relocate to cooler regions, adapt their current vineyards with new techniques, or switch to grape varieties better suited to changing conditions. This article explores the three strategies producers are weighing up as climate change reshapes the wine industry globally.
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The wine industry is implementing innovative strategies to cope with climate change, and a new video report explores how producers are adapting. From adjusting vineyard practices to exploring new grape varieties and locations, winemakers are taking proactive steps to safeguard their businesses and ensure future harvests. It's a reminder of how climate challenges are reshaping winemaking worldwide.
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A new review has found that wine buyers are more influenced by price and label design than by taste when making purchases. This suggests that how a bottle is presented and priced matters far more to shoppers than they might realise, which could reshape how producers and retailers approach marketing and shelf placement strategies.
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