information from the world of wine and wineries.
Recent News (5–7 points)
- Heitz Cellar is changing a historic partnership: for the 2025 harvest, it will no longer purchase all of its grapes from Martha’s Vineyard, breaking a tradition spanning more than 60 years.
- Chapel Down (UK) abandons £32m plan for new winery in Canterbury, citing weak demand for English wine.
- In France, wine production in 2025 is estimated at 37.4 million hectoliters (a slight increase on the previous year) but below the five-year average, due to heat waves and summer drought.
- In the United States, some California wineries are reporting that state bureaucracy is hindering operations, exacerbating an already complex situation in the local wine industry.
- In the first 6 months of 2025, Italian wine exports recorded growth in value of 1.5% (approximately €2.8 billion) and in volume of 2.1% (703.5 million litres) in the main world markets.
- In Australia, the bulk wine market is under pressure: grape purchase prices (“crush prices”) are weak despite a slight recovery in demand.
- The academic study “Artificial intelligence for sustainable wine industry” (July 2025) confirms that AI is increasingly implementable to optimize irrigation, monitoring, winemaking process management, and wine tourism strategies.
M&A Radar / Current Operations
| Deal / rumor | Parties involved | Value (if known) | Geography / focus | Source / date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallo acquires Whiny Baby (a Gen Z-oriented brand) | Rooster / Whiny Baby | not disclosed | USA / Youth & Alternative Market |
Prices & Harvest (mini box)
- Italy – 2025 harvest Estimated production is around 47.4 million hectolitres , an 8% increase compared to 2024. Grapes generally in good health, favorable climatic conditions in many regions.
- Bulk wine prices & market
- In Australia: pressure on bulk markets, with weak grape prices and low demand for bulk wine.
- In the US / California: Expected stable or slight contractions in bulk values, given the persistent weakness of the market.
- Territorial notes
- In Franciacorta, the harvest began with excellent prospects: healthy grapes, a balanced climate, and an estimated 7% increase in exports.
- In southern Italy (Puglia, Abruzzo, Calabria), yield increases are recorded (even 15-25%) compared to 2024, while in Tuscany a 15% decrease is reported.