Digest #36

Wales bids for world’s first natural wine appellation

Welsh winemakers are bidding to create the world's first protected appellation for natural wine, with strict rules excluding synthetic chemicals, industrial yeasts, and most additives. The Natural Wine of Wales PGI would also require organic, regenerative or biodynamic growing practices and spontaneous fermentation. Alongside the appellation push, producers are calling for mandatory ingredient labelling on wine bottles or via QR codes, highlighting that UK winemakers currently have no obligation to disclose ingredients or processing aids, unlike their EU counterparts.

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Back British vineyards

The UK vineyard and winery sector is pushing for a targeted excise duty relief on direct sales through cellar doors, capping it at 50,000 bottles per producer. The proposal would cost the exchequer about £6 million but aims to boost wine tourism (which currently attracts 1.5 million visitors) and build resilience in a sector experiencing recent sales slowdown. The campaign, called Wine Tourism Relief, is gaining traction in Parliament and highlights how cellar-door sales have become a key growth engine for English and Welsh wine producers.

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Swiss trade deal provides ‘exciting opportunities’ for UK

The UK government has struck a trade deal with Switzerland that opens up improved market access for several agricultural sectors, including a particular boost for sparkling wine exports. The agreement represents new commercial opportunities for UK wine producers looking to expand into Swiss markets. This comes as part of the UK's broader post-Brexit trade strategy with European partners.

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Spanish sparkling wine overtook Italy on average import price in Britain

Spanish sparkling wine (cava) has overtaken Italian prosecco on average import price into the UK, according to new market data. This shift signals changing competitive dynamics in Britain's sparkling wine sector, which is a major category for importers and retailers. The price movement may reflect supply strategies, currency effects, or broader market positioning between these two key producing nations.

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One Another winery: Meet the Gen Z making wine in his parents’ shed

Meet George Loat, a 26-year-old winemaker running One Another from his parents' shed in the Cotswolds, producing English still wines in a space barely bigger than a cupboard. After COVID prompted him to work with overseas wineries, he's now established his own micro-producer, representing a growing wave of young winemakers entering the industry with fresh energy and unconventional setups. The article explores how Gen Z is shaping modern wine production and challenging traditional notions of what a winery needs to look like.

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Wildfires in Spain and France hit the world's two largest wine-growing nations

Wildfires are currently sweeping through Spain and France, the world's two largest wine-growing nations. This poses a significant threat to vineyard areas, production capacity, and potentially wine supplies across the global market, with particular implications for European producers and their trading partners.

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Louis Roederer Completes Landmark Burgundy Deal

Louis Roederer has completed its acquisition of Domaine Pierre Damoy, bringing nearly eight hectares of grand cru vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin under the Champagne house's control. The deal marks a significant strategic move into Burgundy's fine wine territory and signals growing consolidation among major players in France's prestige regions.

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Wine Lobby Plans European Parliament Debate on Whether Wine Fits a Healthy Lifestyle

The European wine industry is taking a proactive approach to health messaging, with wine lobbyists planning a debate in the European Parliament to discuss whether wine can fit into a healthy lifestyle. The move suggests the industry wants to shape the conversation around wine and health before regulations tighten further, reflecting broader concerns about EU pressure on alcohol labelling and marketing restrictions.

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Vinissima Women's Network Establishes Awareness Center - Protection Against Assaults in the Wine Industry

The Vinissima Women's Network has launched a confidential support centre to help women in the wine and gastronomy industries facing harassment, boundary violations, and abuse of power. The new initiative addresses workplace safety concerns that have long been undiscussed in wine trade roles, from production through hospitality and trade. It's a significant move by the network to provide formal protection and support for affected professionals.

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Winemaker legend Emidio Pepe has passed away - Pioneer from Abruzzo was 94 years old

Emidio Pepe, the legendary Abruzzo winemaker who transformed Montepulciano and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo into world-class wines through patience and handcrafted methods, has died aged 94. His decades-long commitment to consistency and traditional techniques helped establish Abruzzo as a serious wine region and influenced generations of Italian producers.

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Smoke impact is an increasingly important issue in the wine world, but it's very difficult to test for

Smoke damage from wildfires is becoming an increasingly significant problem for vineyards across France, Spain and Portugal, but producers face a major challenge: there's no reliable, standardised way to test whether their grapes and wine have been affected by smoke taint. This matters because smoke can spoil wine flavour at very low levels, yet detection remains difficult and inconsistent, leaving growers uncertain about their harvest quality and saleability.

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New US tariff raises costs for New Zealand wine exports

The United States has raised tariffs on New Zealand wine to 12.5%, up from a temporary 10% rate, following an investigation into forced-labour import prohibitions. New Zealand wine didn't make the exemption list, even though other NZ products like beef and kiwifruit were excluded. Since the US is New Zealand's largest wine export market, accounting for over a third of NZ wine earnings, the additional duty will likely squeeze margins or push retail prices higher for importers, distributors and consumers.

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Sales are so low, California wineries are burning their vineyards

California wineries are facing such dire market conditions that some are destroying their own vineyards rather than harvesting grapes. The story highlights an oversupply crisis and collapsing prices that have made continued production economically unviable, signalling significant stress in one of the world's largest wine regions and potentially reshaping competitive dynamics in global wine markets.

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Australian wine exports drop to 22-year low

Australian wine exports have plummeted to their lowest level in over 22 years, with volumes dropping 6% to 598 million litres in the year to June 2026. The decline reflects a global slowdown in wine consumption, now at its lowest point since 1961, driven by changing consumer habits, cost pressures and competition from alternative drinks. Australia's top three markets, China, the UK and the US, all saw reduced demand, with China's drop particularly notable as the initial boost from lifted tariffs fades and the market settles into more mature consumption patterns.

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Cabernet Sauvignon the Climate Change Savior

As climate change intensifies heatwaves across wine regions, Cabernet Sauvignon is emerging as a surprisingly resilient choice for growers worried about rising temperatures. The variety's proven ability to withstand extreme heat could become increasingly valuable for producers adapting their vineyard strategies in the years ahead.

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