Marzipan's State of UK DtC Wine Commerce
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Tom Gilbey's Instagram phenomenon is reshaping how wine gets sold to everyday people in the UK, and Corkable's Tom Planer reckons the industry needs to lean into fun and emotion if it wants to actually connect with mainstream consumers. It's a timely look at how social media influence and personality-driven content are becoming serious business drivers in wine retail.
The European Commission's reckoning with a structural decline in wine consumption over the next decade (a 9% drop by 2035). Younger drinkers are moderating their intake, health concerns are shifting behaviour, and traditional wine countries like France and Germany are being hit hardest, which means vineyard areas across the EU are contracting too. It's a sobering outlook that'll likely reshape how producers think about volume versus premiumisation over the coming years.
France's Vin & Société has come up with a clever response to Dry January that doesn't involve asking people to quit wine entirely. They're promoting a more balanced approach, which is pretty interesting given how seriously the French tend to take their wine culture. Could this signal a broader shift in how European producers engage with the growing wellness trend without sacrificing their core market?
Spain's wine industry, worth a massive €22.4 billion, is facing serious headwinds right now. Euro Weekly News reports on what's driving the crisis, and it's worth keeping tabs on given Spain's huge importance to European wine production and export markets.
A celebrity endorsement's sparked a massive sell-out of Sancerre wine in France - apparently Taylor Swift's been spotted enjoying it, and retailers can't keep it on the shelves. It's a brilliant example of how celebrity culture can shift wine market dynamics, even for established French regions. France 24's picked up on what's become a genuinely interesting moment for the wine trade in terms of consumer behaviour and demand spikes.
The no and low alcohol category in the UK is starting to show signs of maturity - household participation actually dipped slightly in December despite a 14% rise in spending. It's an interesting shift: it suggests that whilst fewer people are trying no and low options, the ones who've already switched are buying more of their favourites, which could indicate the category's moving from growth phase into consolidation.
Napa Valley wineries are deploying AI wine concierges to drive engagement and sales through their direct-to-consumer channels. Is this a smart move for DTC? Personalised recommendations and 24/7 customer service without the overhead. Worth keeping an eye on whether this trend spreads to European producers, especially as DTC becomes increasingly competitive.
Kingsland Drinks is forecasting that 2026 will be defined by canned wine, no-and-low options, and premium value positioning. They're betting big on the trend themselves - their Salford facility's new canning line can pump out 26 million cans a year, and they've just partnered with Sicilian organic brand Vinca to can their wines.
British winemakers are getting excited about an early harvest that's shaping up to be a record vintage. The Scottish Farmer's reporting on this suggests the UK wine industry is having a cracking year, which is worth paying attention to given how weather-dependent wine production is. This could be a significant moment for English and Scottish wine if the quality matches the optimism.
English still wines are finally getting their moment in the spotlight after years of English sparkling wine dominating the conversation. The Times is covering how producers are building credibility in the still wine category, which suggests there's real momentum behind this shift in the UK wine industry. Worth keeping an eye on – this could be a significant story for how English wine's reputation is expanding beyond just bubbles.
Spain's wine industry is actively working to attract younger talent to the sector, recognising it's too crucial to let slip. The Guardian piece looks at recruitment and generational challenges that are affecting how Spanish wineries operate and plan for the future. Worth a read if you're interested in how EU wine regions are tackling the skills gap and succession planning.
English sparkling wine is having a proper moment - it's just notched up 35% export growth and now the Réunion des Gastronomes has ditched Champagne for the first time at their annual banquet, serving Greyfriars Reserve Rosé instead. WineGB's boss took the opportunity to highlight how the UK's punishingly high wine duty is holding the industry back compared to how other European governments support theirs.
UK wine producers are celebrating a cracking 2025 harvest, with output hitting 16 million bottles – described as 'outstanding' by the industry. This is proper good news for English wine, showing the sector's really gaining momentum. It's the kind of production figure that signals the UK wine industry is maturing and becoming a serious player.
Geisenheim University—one of Germany's top wine research institutes—has released a study highlighting just how crucial wine tourism is to the industry's bottom line. It's worth keeping an eye on since wine tourism is a massive revenue driver across EU wine regions, from Bordeaux to the Mosel Valley, and understanding its economic impact could shape how regions invest in visitor experiences going forward.
UK wine producers are celebrating what looks like their best vintage on record for 2025. The driest summer ever meant an unusually early harvest with ripest fruit and outstanding quality, plus they're expecting the second-largest volume ever at 15-16 million bottles. WineGB's also flagging some serious momentum for English and Welsh wines overall—exports are up 35% and the sector's grown from 4% to 9% annually over five years, so this quality vintage could be a real turning point for the industry.
Modern drinkers are increasingly gravitating towards fruit-forward and aromatic wines over traditional styles, according to The Drinks Business. This shift in consumer preferences is worth paying attention to if you're producing, retailing or marketing wine in the UK and EU – it suggests where to focus your inventory and marketing efforts to stay ahead of what people actually want to drink right now.
The UK wine market's looking pretty bullish through to 2033, with some interesting growth trends on the horizon. Some useful bits of info in this article on what's driving the market forward and where consumer preferences are heading.
There's a fascinating split emerging in the Champagne market – LVMH's big brands absolutely dominate search rankings and pricing, but family-owned houses are quietly outperforming them on quality whilst keeping prices lower. The Drinks Business has the data showing this divide is real, which could be interesting for UK and EU retailers looking at where they're positioning their Champagne ranges.
The Drinks Business is reporting on how GLP-1 medications like Ozempic are quietly reshaping UK drinking habits, with consumers opting for lower-calorie, lower-sugar options when they do drink. According to DrinkWell's founder, this signals a broader shift towards health-conscious choices rather than abstinence – which means the wine and spirits industry needs to innovate faster on the wellness front or risk being left behind like they were with soft drinks.
Portugal's wine production has dropped 20% to its lowest level in a decade thanks to brutal weather conditions. This is a pretty significant supply shock that could ripple through EU wine markets—fewer Portuguese wines means potential price pressures and shelf space implications for retailers across Europe. Worth watching to see if other Southern European producers face similar climate challenges this vintage.