Wine in 2025: When England Finally Had Its Moment

Happy New Year!

I'm writing this with a glass of something English next to me, which feels appropriate given how 2025 has turned out for our domestic wine industry.

More on that in a moment.

First, the usual gratitude: it's been another December spent largely in the warehouse, rather than at my desk, and once again our brilliant team got us through our busiest period with record numbers of orders out, and sanity (mostly) intact.

Thank you for your continued support, it genuinely makes the difference between us surviving and thriving.

Now, the other annual ritual: looking back at what happened in wine this year and trying to work out what's in store for us in the coming 12 months. Oh, and a heads up about our January Sale (25% OFF all pairs of glasses, and at least 20% OFF everything else).

Spoiler: 2025 was a tale of two realities. Globally, the wine world continued its existential crisis.

But here in England?

We finally had the vintage everyone's been waiting for.

The Global Picture: Recovery, Sort Of

Let's start with the numbers that matter: global wine production climbed 3% in 2025 to reach 232 million hectolitres. That's up from 2024's historic 63-year low, so it sounds like good news.

Except it's still 7% below the five-year average. Three consecutive years of below-average production. That's not a blip, that's the new normal.

Italy rebounded with an 8% increase thanks to favourable conditions. The US saw modest 3% growth, though California remains well below historical peaks. New Zealand recorded its second-largest harvest ever. Brazil surprised many with a strong recovery.

But much of Europe struggled. France recorded its smallest harvest since 1957. Spain hit a 30-year low, with Castilla-La Mancha down 30% due to intense heat. Germany battled harvest-time rain, while Portugal faced the cruel double hit of drought followed by flooding.

Bordeaux: The Canary in the Coal Mine

Bordeaux is a useful case study here.

In late August, Château Lafleur, yes, that Lafleur, one of Pomerol's most prestigious estates, announced it was withdrawing from both the Pomerol and Bordeaux appellations. From the 2025 vintage onward, their wines will be labelled Vin de France.

Their reasoning? AOC rules on irrigation, canopy management, and vine density are "counterproductive to climate resilience." They're not alone in thinking this, they're just the first top-tier estate willing to say it publicly and act on it.

When Châteaux in Saint-Émilion announced their earliest harvests on record on 28 August, it wasn't celebrated as innovation, it was acknowledged as environmental necessity. Accelerated ripening means sugars rise and acids fall before tannins and aromatic compounds can fully develop.

The question isn't whether Bordeaux can adapt anymore; it's whether the appellation system will adapt fast enough.

The Consumer Reality: Less, But Pickier

Here's the uncomfortable truth: people are still drinking less wine.

Global consumption continued its decline through 2025. The number of wine drinkers in key markets fell by around 5 million between 2021 and 2024. Gen Z still isn't being recruited into wine at anything like the rates millennials were.

But, and this remains the crucial but, those who are drinking wine are increasingly spending more.

Premium wines priced over £40 showed volume growth even as overall sales contracted. The "less but better" trend solidified throughout 2025. One excellent bottle instead of three mediocre ones. The £35 bottle has quietly replaced the £20 bottle as the default "good wine" for dinner parties and gifts, and people are comfortable with that shift.

The Low-and-No Movement

Low- and no-alcohol wines continued their 30% year-on-year growth. Organic, biodynamic, and natural wines moved further into the mainstream. Sustainability credentials became non-negotiable for younger consumers, rather than nice-to-haves.

And here's something interesting, as I'm writing this, on New Year's Eve, an article (in The Guardian, no less) has just popped up on my news feed: "Coasting" and "zebra drinking" have emerged as named trends in 2025.

Coasting is choosing a wine, beer or cocktail with about half the alcohol content of the traditional version, and Ocado have reported a 4,000% increase in 3-9% ABV wine.

Zebra drinking (or "zebra striping") is alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks throughout an evening, start with an NA cocktail, have a glass of wine, finish alcohol-free. It's moderation without deprivation, and it aligns neatly with how younger drinkers want flexibility without compromising on taste, quality or experience.

England: The Vintage We've Been Waiting For

Right, let's talk about how 2025 was extraordinary for English wine. Genuinely, properly, world-class extraordinary.

WineGB called it "a vintage of outstanding quality." Stephen Skelton MW went further: "Potentially this is the best year ever for still wine, especially from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the right sites, and we can expect some truly world-class wines from the top producers."

The numbers tell part of the story: between 15 and 16 million bottles produced, making it the second-largest harvest on record. Yields matched the ten-year average despite regional variation. Crucially, this came after 2024's difficult vintage, so producers weren't scrambling, stock levels allowed them to be selective about quality.

But it's the quality that has winemakers genuinely excited.

Perfect Conditions

The UK experienced its driest summer on record. Long, warm, uninterrupted by the rain that has plagued recent vintages. Flowering conditions were optimal. Veraison happened early and evenly. Disease pressure was minimal, some vineyards remained almost entirely disease-free all year.

Harvest began in late August for some producers, with most starting by mid-September, around three weeks earlier than 2024. That early start gave English winemakers something they rarely enjoy: time.

Time to choose optimal picking windows.

Time to let flavours develop fully.

Time to work with nature rather than race against it.

Exceptional Quality

Fruit quality has been universally described as exceptional. Sugar levels excellent, acids well-balanced, phenolic ripeness superb. Corinne Seely, winemaker at Exton Park in Hampshire since 2008, put it simply: "I've never had this quality before. It is perfection."

Comparisons to 2018 have been frequent and, by all accounts, justified. Some are even calling 2025 England's equivalent of Bordeaux 1982 or Burgundy 1999. Time will tell whether that proves prophetic or optimistic, but the excitement is real.

Nyetimber, Hattingley Valley, Chapel Down, Black Chalk, Gusbourne, are all reporting fruit quality beyond expectations. The still wine potential is particularly exciting, with natural alcohol levels and flavour development that would have seemed implausible a decade ago.

This Wasn't Luck

And this is the key point: this wasn't luck.

This was the result of skilled winemakers who've spent years learning our climate, understanding our terroir, and building the experience to respond when conditions finally aligned.

When 2025 delivered, they knew exactly what to do.

Export volumes are up 35% and market share has grown from 4% to 9% in five years. English wine isn't emerging anymore, it's emerged.

What Actually Sold in 2025

Beyond the harvest, consumption patterns continued to evolve.

Portuguese Wines

Portuguese wines had a standout year. As Bordeaux and Burgundy drift further into luxury territory, Portugal delivered the "three S's":

• Story (250+ native grapes)
• Style (modern winemaking with traditional character)
• Savings (exceptional value for quality)

Expect Dão, Lisboa, and varieties like Touriga Nacional and Castelão to feature prominently through 2026.

Premium Sparkling Beyond Champagne

Premium sparkling wines beyond Champagne gained real traction. Cava, particularly Reserva and Gran Reserva, and dry Lambrusco earned respect from consumers who'd previously dismissed them.

They're no longer alternatives; they're choices in their own right.

Orange Wines

Orange wines continued their transition from curiosity to category, now established on progressive wine lists as a recognised style rather than a novelty.

Chillable Reds

And "chillable reds" became a thing. Light-bodied, high-acid wines like Gamay, Frappato, and Zweigelt served slightly cool bridged the gap between rosé and red, casual enough for summer, structured enough for cooler months.

What We Sold at The Riedel Shop

Our own sales told an interesting story about how people were actually drinking in 2025, and comparing year-on-year reveals some clear shifts.

The best-seller? Microfibre cleaning cloths, up significantly on last year. Not glamorous, but it tells you something: people care about maintaining their glassware properly. They're investing in decent glasses and want to keep them in good condition.

Premiumisation in Action

The big story was premiumisation in action. The Superleggero Bordeaux Grand Cru Glass more than tripled sales, while the Burgundy Grand Cru nearly quadrupled. People are investing in serious stemware for serious wines, exactly mirroring the broader "less but better" trend.

The Veloce range surged. Water glasses up substantially, Chardonnay nearly doubled. Veloce hits a sweet spot: quality Riedel engineering at more accessible prices than Superleggero. Perfect for the premiumisation plateau where £30-40 bottles are becoming standard.

Cocktail Culture Continued

Cocktail culture continued growing. Drink Specific Glassware Rocks more than doubled, Double Rocks were up significantly, gin glasses nearly tripled. The home bar trend from lockdown didn't fade, it matured.

People are building proper setups with proper glassware, not just making do.

Trading Up Daily Drinking

Everyday drinking shifted. The Ouverture range remained steady (beer glasses stable, white and red wine up slightly), but Grape collection glasses more than doubled across the board. People want decent glasses for daily use without the anxiety of breaking expensive stems, but they're trading up within that category.

Wine accessories (Le Creuset pumps, stoppers, foil cutters, Vacu Vin) all performed well. The fundamentals of wine service haven't changed even as glassware preferences evolve.

Looking Ahead to 2026

So what's coming next?

The Premiumisation Plateau

Value wines aren't disappearing, but the £30–40 bottle is now the baseline for what many consumers consider "good" wine rather than a splurge. Expect this to continue. For producers, the implication is clear: you either need a compelling story or an unbeatable price. The middle ground is shrinking fast.

Tariff Uncertainty

With Trump's tariffs set at 15 percent for the foreseeable future, it's a lose-lose situation for winemakers on both sides of the Atlantic. The European Committee of Wine Companies estimates that the European wine industry could lose €800 million to €1 billion over the next year.

And American wine groups including Napa Valley Vintners, The Wine Institute, Wine America, and the National Association of Wine Retailers have sent a joint letter to President Trump asking him to reconsider his European tariffs. They warned that the 15 percent tariff rate could reduce American alcohol sales by nearly $2 billion and put 25,000 U.S. jobs at risk.

Wine Tourism Renaissance

Already growing in 2025, this will accelerate through 2026. Wine isn't just a product anymore, it's an experience, a destination, a story. Regions that can combine quality with compelling visitor experiences (English wine country, take note) are well placed to build lasting loyalty.

The Heritage Grape Explosion

Lesser-known indigenous varieties from Eastern Europe, Greece, and Portugal will continue gaining ground. Discovery matters, especially to younger drinkers. Expect Georgian, Hungarian, and Slovenian wines to have breakout moments.

Champagne's Comeback?

An intriguing prediction from multiple sommeliers: Champagne may stage a resurgence in 2026. After years of premiumisation pushing it firmly into "special occasion" territory, there's a sense the pendulum could swing back. Whether that's optimism or genuine momentum remains to be seen, especially with the English Sparkling Wine extravaganza on the horizon.

Technology Gets Serious

AI-powered vineyard management, precision viticulture, advanced analytics, what felt experimental in 2024 became practical in 2025 and will be expected in 2026. Producers who can use technology to manage climate challenges without compromising quality will have a clear edge.

The "Fun" Factor

After years of earnest messaging around premiumisation and sustainability, wine may finally loosen its tie. Ryan Reynolds' Ugly Estates campaign (premium California wine in a 1L Tetra Pak "33% more wine, 100% less snob") resonated because it said the quiet part out loud: wine culture can be exhausting.

Expect more brands to embrace humour, warmth, and accessibility, not dumbing down, just opening the door wider.

What This Means

2025 was a tough year for much of the wine world. Climate volatility continues. Consumption keeps declining. The economics are challenging.

But England had its moment. After years of "promising," "emerging," and "nearly there," 2025 delivered a vintage with no caveats required.

Globally, the industry is finally accepting that growth isn't coming back in volume terms and is adapting accordingly.

• Quality over quantity
• Experiences over units sold
• Sustainability as necessity, not marketing
• New regions and varieties instead of relying on the same old classics

That's not a crisis. That's evolution.

Wine has survived worse than this. It will survive again, likely by becoming more interesting in the process.

The wine world in 2026 won't be about bigger, cheaper, or more established. It'll be about authentic, sustainable, distinctive, and yes, fun.

Producers who understand their land. Consumers who care about what's in their glass.

And after 2025, English wine has a genuine role to play in that future.

The best news remains unchanged: good wine doesn't have to cost a fortune.

Whether it's a Portuguese red that over-delivers, a premium Cava (or English Sparkling) that rivals Champagne, a chillable Frappato for unpredictable weather, or an English still wine that can stand confidently on any international stage, there's something brilliant out there for every palate and budget.

Here's to 2026.

May your winemakers thrive, your glassware survive, and the nonsense surrounding wine be kept to a minimum.

Look after each other and a very Happy New Year to you.