Moscato d’Asti is enjoying a surge in China, with sales up 55%, even as the country’s overall wine imports slump sharply. The sweet Italian sparkler is winning over younger drinkers, offering a bright spot in an otherwise declining market.

Italy’s Moscato d’Asti is bucking the trend. China’s total wine imports fell 26.7% in 2025, with Italy also down, yet Moscato is thriving, doubling shipments to two million bottles. Asia now represents 18% of exports, led by China and strong demand in South Korea.

Its appeal is clear - low alcohol, gentle fizz, sweetness and affordability suit casual drinking occasions and a shift away from heavy reds. Moscato’s versatility also helps. It is popular not just in Italy, but in Australia, the US and parts of South America, where aromatic, easy styles attract new wine drinkers.

The bigger picture is sobering. The Chinese market is shrinking fast, and Italian wine overall remains under pressure despite Moscato’s success.

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The UK wine industry is celebrating an exceptional 2025 vintage, with production soaring thanks to ideal weather conditions. A warm, dry growing season delivered record yields, earlier harvests and high-quality fruit across English and Welsh vineyards.

Wine GB reported a 39% increase on 2024, while Food Standards Agency data showed total production jumping 55% to 124,377hl, or more than 16.5 million bottles. An early spring and four summer heatwaves accelerated ripening, producing the earliest harvest on record.
Average alcohol levels rose to 10.48%, while acidity fell slightly, indicating riper fruit. Varieties such as Bacchus, Solaris and Pinot Noir performed strongly.

Nicola Bates, CEO of Wine GB, commented: “We take great optimism from scale of the harvest and most importantly the fantastic quality of fruit we are now producing.

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Michel Rolland, the influential French “flying winemaker”, has died in Bordeaux, aged 78, after a heart attack, closing a remarkable chapter in modern wine. Known for shaping styles worldwide, his impact reached hundreds of estates across continents.

Born in Libourne, Rolland studied oenology at the University of Bordeaux, later founding a laboratory in Pomerol with his wife Dany. From the 1980s, he advised wineries across France, California, Argentina, Chile and Italy, helping transform winemaking into a global consultancy business.

His hallmark was producing richer, more structured wines, a style that found favour with critic Robert Parker and helped redefine international tastes. Rolland’s influence was especially notable in Argentina, where he contributed to Malbec’s global rise.

Though sometimes criticised for encouraging uniformity, Rolland rejected the idea of a single style. Widely credited with modernising wine, he leaves a legacy that continues to shape the industry worldwide.

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Tuscany, celebrated for reds like Chianti Classico and Brunello, is preparing to officially include sparkling wines under the Toscana IGT label. The National Wine Committee approved the step on 17 March, following the Regional Council’s 2024 decision. They now await final European Commission approval. Under the new ruling, producers will be able to make white and rosé sparkling wines using traditional (Metodo Classico) or tank (Charmat) methods. The move also standardises labelling to “Toscana” strengthening brand recognition.

Cesare Cecchi, president of Consorzio Vino Toscana, called the change historic, highlighting the growth in consortium membership and evolving market preferences. Stefano Campatelli, director, noted many producers already craft sparkling wines, and formal recognition will expand development opportunities while reinforcing Tuscany’s reputation for quality.

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Italy has lifted its long-standing ban on domestic de-alcoholised wine production, paving the way for wineries to process wines at home for the first time. The move promises lower costs, greener logistics, and fresh opportunities in a fast-growing category.

Italian producers are preparing to bring de-alcoholisation in-house following a late-2025 decree expected to be fully implemented by the end of March. Until now, wineries had to ship wines to countries such as Germany and Belgium, adding cost and carbon miles.

The new rules set out different requirements for small and large producers, with all activity conducted under a tax warehouse regime and appropriate licensing. Approved techniques include vacuum evaporation, spinning cone columns and reverse osmosis.

Industry figures say the change reflects rising global demand for low- and no-alcohol options. Producers believe domestic processing will boost competitiveness while reducing environmental impact and expanding consumer choice without threatening traditional wine styles.

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California has recorded its smallest grape harvest in decades, but Europe is retrenching too, with vineyard areas shrinking across France, Germany and Switzerland as producers respond to falling demand and rising costs.

France is taking the most dramatic action, with plans to uproot nearly 28,000 hectares of vines under a €130 million government scheme. Much of the reduction is focused on red varieties in regions such as Occitanie and Bordeaux, where shifting consumer tastes and declining sales have hit growers hardest. Around a third of applicants intend to leave the industry entirely, while others are scaling back to more commercially viable plots.

In Germany, Baden-Württemberg’s vineyard area fell 3% in 2025, with growers abandoning unprofitable land. Switzerland faces similar pressures, with up to 10% of vineyards at risk despite a strong harvest, as weak sales and rising inventories force difficult decisions.

The latest California Preliminary Grape Crush Report shows that the 2025 wine grape harvest was notably smaller than recent years. Total crushed tonnage in California was around 2.7 million tons, down about 6% from 2024 and the lowest in over two decades. Red grape tonnage fell more sharply than white, reflecting shifting consumer preferences.

According to the report, lower domestic wine consumption and high bulk inventories continue to challenge growers and wineries alike, prompting vineyard removals and cautious optimism about future market stability.

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