with the main trends, events, and useful signals for the world of wine and cellars:
Wine Report of October 8, 2025
Relevant news
- French production revised downward for 2025. The French Ministry of Agriculture has reduced its 2025 wine production estimate to 36 million hectoliters (-1% vs. 2024), a full 16% below the five-year average, due to intense heat and drought. Interestingly, Champagne is an exception: production is expected to increase 14% year-over-year, though still below the historical average.
- Champagne Demand to Revitalize Thanks to Quality Champagne producers are counting on improved grape quality in 2025 to stimulate a recovery in global demand, which has so far shown signs of contraction.
- Tasting Room to Open for California’s Natural Wine Scene Martha Stoumen, an emerging figure in the natural wine movement, will open her first tasting room in Healdsburg, California, on October 9, 2025. The winery features Italian varietals such as Negroamaro and Nero d’Avola.
- Trade tensions and the relaunch of Italian wineries in the US
- Huge Italian investments and the “Sistema Italia” strategy are underway to relaunch the company’s presence in the United States during the Vinitaly.USA platform in Chicago.
- US tariffs remain a critical issue: the US market is vital for Italian wine, with significant economic and strategic impacts if tariffs persist.
- Six new “Italian Wine Ambassadors” were appointed during this year’s Vinitaly.USA, strengthening the representation and soft diplomacy of Italy’s wine industry.
- Italy: 2025 harvest growing and leadership expected Italy is preparing to maintain world leadership in wine production in 2025, with approximately 47 million hectoliters , an 8% increase compared to 2024, driven by the contribution of the South (Sicily, Puglia).
- Innovation and Sustainability: AI Enters Vineyards, Wineries, and Tourism. A recent study explores how Artificial Intelligence can guide sustainable management in viticulture, production, and wine tourism, with benefits for water efficiency, yield forecasting, preventative maintenance, and customer experience. arXiv
- Milan Wine Week 2025 is live From October 4th to 12th, Milan hosts Wine Week, with masterclasses, immersive experiences, partnerships with local venues, the presentation of the “Wine List Italia 2025” and numerous events around the city.
- Winery Spotlight: Librandi, Roots and Innovation in Calabria The history of the Librandi family emerges as an example of how tradition and innovation can coexist: three generations in the business, a strong local presence, and an international vision.
Trends and signals to consider
- Climate as a discriminating factor : declining production and regional fluctuations show how climate change is increasingly affecting the performance of wine-growing regions.
- Quality as a defense lever : Champagne and other premium appellations focus on improving quality to justify price positioning and resist commercial pressures.
- Reducing US dependence?: Remaining exposed to the US market is strategic, but competitive parallelism in other markets is needed to reduce the risk of tariffs.
- Enabling Technology : AI adoption is becoming a differentiating factor for those who want to optimize costs, sustainability and reputation.
- Narrative value of the territory : consolidated stories like Librandi can be used as strategic assets in brand storytelling to enhance authenticity and heritage.
- Pay attention to the timing of physical events : events like Milan Wine Week can become key moments for launching content, collaborations, and coordinated storytelling.