on the main news in the world of wine and wineries, with a strategic eye for those working in the sector.
Highlights
- In Italy, the 2025 harvest is estimated at 47.4 million hectolitres , 8% compared to 2024, with healthy grapes and positive quality prospects.
- The bulk wine market is holding up: the value remains at ~€1.2 billion, with an average price increase of 2.1% (€0.78/litre) despite declining volumes.
- Globally, Q1 2025 wine exports are down ‑4.4% in volume, but the pace of recent shipments signals an ongoing recovery.
- In France, the 2025 production forecast has been reduced to 36 million hectolitres (-1% year-on-year, -16% compared to the five-year average), due to summer heat waves.
- Australian company Treasury Wine Estates has suspended its A$200 million buyback and withdrawn its 2026/27 guidance, citing sales difficulties for the Penfolds brand in China and operational issues in the US.
- A regeneration of packaging and distribution models is underway: “bag-in-box” is experiencing strong growth in the UK and other markets, both for its convenience and its sustainable profile.
- On the technological front, new research shows advanced applications of artificial intelligence for viticulture, spectral analysis of wine (classification, prediction), and personalized wine tourism.
M&A Radar
| Deal / Rumor | Parties involved | Size (if known) | Geography / focus | Source & date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transactions in the beverage sector (overall) | various operators in the alcohol sector | 31 transactions in the first half of 2025 | global (wine, spirits) | |
| Treasury Wine Estates – Operational Difficulties / Reorganization | TWE | A$200M buyback suspension | Australia / global |
Prices & Harvest (mini box)
| Region / variety | Estimated price / notes | Trend vs previous year / week | Notes on yield / climate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Italy, average bulk wine | approx. €0.78/litre | 2.1% on average prices (WBWE) | volumes slightly down but value stable |
| Italy, table wines / white wines | 4% (white) | general segments in moderate growth | |
| Italy, DOC / DOCG wines (red) | -2% vs 2024 | slight weakness for reds compared to whites | |
| Lombardy | 15% of production estimated compared to 2024 | significant quantitative increase | early harvest, healthy and aromatic grapes |
| Tuscany / Chianti DOCG | estimated volume cuts −10/15% | qualitative enhancement precautions | containment policies implemented to defend the brand |
Additional Notes:
- Some areas have already harvested more than 75% of the expected potential; but in marginal areas yields are falling short of original forecasts.
- In France, the summer heat accelerated ripening but penalized volumetric development, pushing estimates downwards.
- The use of remote sensing techniques (SAR radar combined with optical indices) is gaining ground for monitoring biomass and phenological stages in the cellar with consistent data that is less sensitive to weather conditions.
on the main news in the world of wine and wineries, with a strategic eye for those working in the sector.
Recent Updates (5–7 points)
- In Italy, the estimate for the 2025 harvest converges on ~47.4 million hectolitres (8% vs 2024) and “very good / excellent” quality.
- However, Legacoop reports that final volumes could be lower than initial forecasts (~44 million hl) due to adverse weather conditions and reduced yields.
- The bulk wine market remains resilient: in the first six months of 2025, total world exports were 16.5 million hl (-2.3% on 2024), with the value stable at €1.2 billion thanks to an increase in average prices (2.1%).
- In Italy, wine exports in the first half of 2025 exceeded €2.8 billion, with an increase of 1.5% in value and 2.1% in volume.
- In the acquisitions segment, The Wine Group completed the acquisition of six brands (including Meiomi, SIMI, Woodbridge) and vineyards from Constellation Brands, strengthening its infrastructure capabilities.
- The macroeconomic environment is pushing wineries to adopt digital tools and innovations: research has emerged on the application of Artificial Intelligence in viticulture, production, and wine tourism to optimize sustainability and operations.
- In Tuscany, consortia (e.g. Chianti DOCG) have decided on yield reduction policies of 10–15% to protect the quality positioning of the brand.
M&A Radar
| Operation / Rumor | Parties involved | Value / note | Geography / focus | Source & date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Wine Group → acquisition by Constellation Brands | The Wine Group & Constellation Brands | not disclosed | USA / California & North America | |
| Vinovento / Argea / Herita / Italian operations | Herita Marzotto Wine Estates acquires Marsh Estate (USA); Argea acquires US importer; acquisitions in Oltrepò Pavese, Friuli | not always known | Italy USA | |
| Oniwines / Veronesi | Veronesi plans acquisitions in Piedmont and Northern Italy | not disclosed | Italy | |
| Campari → sale of Cinzano and Frattina | Campari → Caffo Group 1915 | ~ €100 million | Italy / aperitif and wine brands |
Prices & Harvest (mini box)
| Region / variety | Indicative price per quintal / hl | Trend vs previous year / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Veneto / local DOCs | ~ €40-60 / quintal for DOC grapes | stable / slight increase for organic grapes |
| Pavia / Barbera DOP | ~ €48 / quintal (var. 40–55) | moderate downward trend or stability |
| Tuscan bulk wine (red) | ~ €200 / hl | high supply, downward pressure |
| Bolgheri Vermentino (bulk) | ~ €320 / hl | premium level |
| Italy, medium bulk market | ~ €0.78 / liter for exported bulk wine | 2.1% average price vs 2024 |
Harvest notes / agricultural conditions:
- In many regions, the harvest is more than 75% complete; some areas are seeing lower yields than initially forecast, contributing to a rebalancing of supply.
- In Tuscany, a drop from 2.7 to 2.4 million hl is expected for strategic reasons.
- In Veneto, an increase in production is expected: an estimated 100,000 tons compared to 2024.
- Variable climate: areas like Friuli report contrasting conditions but with promising aromatic results (low yields, balanced acidity).
on the main news in the world of wine and wineries, with a strategic eye for those working in the sector.
Key Updates (5-7 points)
- In France, the Ministry of Agriculture has revised downwards its estimated 2025 production to 36 million hectoliters , 1% less than 2024 and well below the five-year average, due to heat waves and summer drought.
- In Italy, wine exports in the first half of 2025 grew in value (1.5%) and volume (2.1%), reaching €2.8 billion and ~703.5 million litres.
- However, the Italian harvest is in its final stages: over 75% has already been harvested, and updated estimates place it at around 44 million hectolitres , slightly below initial forecasts.
- In Tuscany, some consortia have approved a controlled reduction in yield (from 2.7 to 2.4 million hl), to protect the quality and positioning of the wine.
- The European spirits/wine M&A market has seen a collapse in transaction volumes, reaching its lowest level in nearly 27 years.
- A recent transaction: the Caffo group acquired the Italian Wine Brands plant (linked to the Cinzano brand) in a deal that reshapes part of the landscape of major national brands.
- On the innovation front, a recent study highlights how AI can be applied in viticulture, production, and wine tourism to improve sustainability, efficiency, and customer engagement.
M&A Radar
| Operation / Rumor | Parties involved / notes | Size (if known) | Geography | Source / date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caffo purchases IWB / Cinzano plant | Caffo Group acquires Italian Wine Brands’ Cinzano plant | not disclosed | Italy | |
| Transfer of Cinzano/Frattina from Campari to Caffo | Campari sells its brands to Caffo for €100 million. | ~€100 m |
Prices & Harvest (mini box)
| Region / variety | Notes on performance / conditions / performance | Price (if reported) / comparative trend |
|---|---|---|
| Italy (overall) | >75% harvest completed; lush quality, good health conditions | Bulk wine prices signal downward pressure, due to surplus and weak demand |
| Tuscany | Strategic choice to reduce yield from 2.7 to 2.4 million hl to protect quality | |
| Veneto / Prosecco / Pinot Grigio | Positive grape conditions, quantitative increases expected in some areas despite cautious trends | |
| France | Estimated production decrease due to summer heat effect / reduced yields |
Here’s the updated daily briefing on the wine/winery sector, with recent data and strategic insights.
Key Updates (5–7 points)
- The estimated 2025 harvest for Italy is ~47.4 million hectoliters, 8% compared to 2024, with good overall quality.
- However, some more conservative estimates indicate that the harvest completed in over 75% of the territory (in progress) could bring in ~44 million hectolitres, confirming a good quality level but less generous volumes than expected.
- In France, due to the summer heatwave, the Ministry of Agriculture has reduced its 2025 production forecast to ~36 million hectoliters, −1% year-on-year and well below the five-year average.
- The California bulk wine market is reporting “flat/weak” prices due to slowing sales and competition between coastal and inland areas.
- Italian wine exports grew in the first months of 2025: exports exceeded €2.8 billion in the period considered.
- Globally, M&A activity in the wine sector is experiencing a “time out”: few significant transactions, greater focus on selective consolidations.
- An innovation to watch: the use of Artificial Intelligence for sustainable vineyard management, production, and wine tourism. The study highlights potential in predictive analytics, irrigation optimization, and personalized customer experience.
M&A Radar
| Deal / Rumor | Parties involved / notes | Size / Known data | Geography / focality | Source / date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elouan Acquisition (Oregon Pinot Noir) | Stoller Wine Group (Oregon) Acquires Elouan Brand from Copper Cane | operation in the finished segment, volume from a well-known brand in the US market | USA / Oregon | |
| Purchase of American Canyon Winery, Napa | Mezzetta Foods Acquires Winery from Cartlidge & Browne | ~116,000 ft² (approximately) | California / USA | |
| Macro Trend: Global M&A Contraction | No dominant operations in recent times | M&A index at lowest level in decades | International / wine & agribusiness sector |
Prices & Harvest (mini box)
| Region / variety | Price / trend reported | Note on volume / yield / climatic conditions |
|---|---|---|
| California / bulk wine | Prices stagnant / weak compared to previous months | Coastal competitors hold margin; interior suffers oversupply |
| Spain / generic white wines (ex-cellar) | €0.45-€0.50/l approximately (stable price) | The “must / sulphate must” market shows greater fluidity |
| Tuscany (Italy) | Estimated reduction in regional production: from 2.7 to 2.4 million hl in 2025 | Favorable climate, balanced ripening, quality judged to be “excellent / very good” |
| Italy overall | Estimated harvest 47.4 million hl (but revised to ~44 million) | >75% harvest already picked, moderate night conditions support balanced acidity |
Trend vs last year / careful notes:
- Volumes in Italy estimated to increase (8%) on some estimates but with more cautious downward revisions.
- In France, a physiological decline due to previous thermal stress and drought: some areas (Bordeaux, Languedoc) are in decline.
- Summer weather conditions (heat and drought) continue to influence yields and quality in many European countries.
- The bulk wine market is showing signs of price compression, especially in less distinctive regions.