Wine Report of October 14, 2025

on the main news in the world of wine and wineries, with a strategic eye for those working in the sector.

Highlights

• In Italy, “Cantina Italia” stocks as of September 30, 2025, amount to 36 million hectolitres of wine (-9.6% compared to July, 1.3% on an annual basis) awaiting the harvest.
• The bulk wine market is holding up: despite a drop in volume, the value remains around 1.2 billion euros , thanks to an average price increase of 2.1%, which brings the average price to around €0.78/litre .
• Italian wine exports in the first half of 2025 grew by 1.5% in value (≈ €2.8 billion) and 2.1% in volume (≈ 703.5 million litres), a sign of resilience despite US tariffs and trade turbulence.
• In France, estimated output for 2025 has been reduced to approximately 36 million hectoliters, down 1% year-on-year and 16% compared to the five-year average, due to summer heatwaves.
• The adoption of alternative packaging such as bag-in-box is accelerating, especially in the UK and Northern European markets, thanks to advantages in post-opening freshness and logistical sustainability.
• Innovation: Artificial intelligence applications in the wine industry are growing—from vineyard monitoring to resource optimization to personalized wine tourism.
• A recent case of recognized excellence: Vecchie Terre di Montefili (Chianti) stands out in international reviews for its stylistic consistency, quality, and authenticity.

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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• Australian company Treasury Wine Estates has suspended its A$200 million buyback and withdrawn its 2026/27 guidance, citing sales difficulties for the Penfolds brand in China and operational issues in the US.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.

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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.

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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.

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