Recent news of note, Latest from the world of wine.
Champagne: quality on the rise, hopes for demand
Champagne producers are banking on improved grape quality in 2025, after a difficult season. Despite a 10% decline in the harvest, they are optimistic about the potential leverage effect on demand.
· Chile towards Brazil: paradigm shift in wine exports The new tariffs on Chilean wines destined for the United States have pushed wine exports towards Brazil, which has become the main market, with growth close to 10%.
· Rapid expansion of the English wine industry . Warmer forecasts and earlier ripening have spurred a surge in English vineyard acreage. Production for 2025 has already shown signs of strong dynamism, with more room for still wines in addition to sparkling wines.
· Wine and Climate Change: The Story of Adaptation A recent article explores how traditional regions are already feeling the effects of climate change (extreme temperatures, weather events) and how producers and researchers are responding with more resilient techniques.
Sonoma’s Strategy to Attract Young Consumers In California, some wineries are proposing a 1% tax on tastings and sales to fund marketing initiatives aimed at engaging younger generations. The idea has sparked debate.
In Napa, Heitz Cellar changes its grape sourcing strategy . After 60 years of exclusive contracts with grapes from Martha’s Vineyard, Heitz will open to outside suppliers for the 2025 harvest. This is a strong signal of the changing supply chain logic in the United States.
Trends, data and scenarios to watch
- Super-rich investing in European wine A Knight Frank survey reports that 46% of the world’s top fortunes are considering moving to Europe with an interest in wine or olive oil properties—conceived as “hybrid” assets, halfway between lifestyle and income.
- Artificial Intelligence and Wine Sustainability A recent study (preprint) shows how AI is entering the winery, with applications in precision viticulture, system monitoring, irrigation optimization, and personalized wine tourism experiences.
- Vinitaly.USA 2025: Strengthening the Bridge with the US Market. Vinitaly.USA returns to Chicago on October 5–6, with approximately 250 companies and 1,500 buyers expected. The event will be accompanied by wine2wine, a business forum with thematic sessions on the future of the sector. Italian Exports Suffer / US Tariffs / Trump Duties. Trade tensions between the EU and the United States are impacting European wine: French and Italian companies are already feeling the effects of the tariffs and are seeking compensatory measures.
- Emerging Phenomena: Wine-Producing Sweden Bucking the trend of many stagnant markets, Sweden is emerging as an “atypical” wine region, with growing investment in the supply chain and local production.
- Regulatory Perspectives: Minimum Taxes and Minimum Tariffs An academic study assesses the impact of policies such as the introduction of a minimum price per alcoholic unit (MUP) compared to volumetric taxation, highlighting potential effects on the profits of wineries of different sizes.