Archaeologists in southeastern Turkey have uncovered a remarkably preserved 1,600-year-old winery near Kahta Castle, revealing the scale of Roman-era winemaking in the ancient kingdom of Commagene. The sprawling 37-acre site, near the village of Oymaklı in Adıyaman Province, dates to the 4th century A.D.

Excavations have revealed grape-pressing basins, stone cisterns, and milling stones, suggesting large-scale industrial wine production rather than domestic use. The well-preserved foundations and infrastructure provide a rare glimpse into late-Roman rural industry and trade networks. Researchers believe the complex may have supplied both local markets and elite residents of the nearby fortress.

Officials plan to designate the area as a protected archaeological site. The discovery underscores Turkey’s rich winemaking heritage and offers new insight into how Roman viticulture thrived far beyond the empire’s traditional heartlands.

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Wine imports into the UK dropped by 5.4% in value to €1.98bn in the first half of 2025, while volumes fell 6.4% to 551.7 million litres.

Despite the dip, the average price per litre edged up slightly to €3.69, according to the Spanish Wine Market Observatory.

The decline was led by still bottled and sparkling wines, with the latter falling 7.2% in value and 5.3% in volume compared to 2024. Bulk wine fared slightly better, dropping just 3% in value but gaining 6.2% in price per litre.

France remains the UK’s top country for imports by value, followed by Italy and Spain, though all three saw notable decreases.

Interestingly, Ireland’s wine imports told a different story, rising 8.9% in value and 13.5% in volume, particularly in the sparkling category, suggesting that UK consumers may be tightening their belts while their Irish neighbours raise a glass.

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Hungary’s vineyards are facing a major crisis as Flavescence Dorée (FD), a phytoplasma disease spread by the leafhopper Scaphoideus titanus, sweeps across almost all of the country’s 22 wine regions, including the UNESCO-listed Tokaj. First detected in 2013, FD has exploded in 2025, fuelled by a perfect storm of environmental and structural factors.

Hungary’s warm continental climate allows the leafhopper to reproduce rapidly, while fragmented vineyards bordered by forest and abandoned plots provide ideal refuges for both insects and wild vines. Limited early enforcement, uneven regional coordination, and the movement of infected planting material have also accelerated spread far faster than in western Europe, where decades of strict control have kept FD in check.

More than 200 inspection teams are now surveying 3,385 hectares nationwide. Infected vines are being uprooted and insecticide spraying extended into November, backed by 3.8 billion forints (£8 million) in state funding. Despite hopes that swift action can save key regions, experts warn the disease is 'spreading extremely rapidly', threatening not only Hungary’s vineyards but potentially neighbouring countries too.

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A shipment of fine Ukrainian wines destined for London was robbed near Dover this week, dealing a bitter blow to producers already working under wartime strain. Thieves stole five pallets, mainly of sparkling wine, from a lorry parked overnight at a CCTV-monitored site.

The shipment, organised by Ukrainian Wine Company UK, included wines from Kolonist, Grande Vallee and Chateau Chizay — vineyards located mainly in Odesa and Transcarpathia, far from but still affected by the Russian invasion. Some growers operate under air-raid alerts, with disrupted transport routes and labour shortages making exports especially challenging.

Brand ambassador Sera Karamshuk said the thieves “knew what they were doing”, deliberately targeting the most valuable bottles. Despite CCTV evidence, police have declined to pursue the case for lack of leads. CEO Svitlana Tsybak described the theft as “heartbreaking”, adding that every bottle represents “extraordinary effort amid extraordinary hardship.”

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A trio of reports from key wine regions reveal that 2025 has been a tough year for production worldwide, from drought and heat in Spain to abandonment and high costs in California, and rain-soaked vineyards in Germany. Yet, quality may still surprise.

Germany is forecasting its smallest harvest since 2010, down 7% on last year and 16% below the decade average, as rain and small berries hit yields in Rheinhessen, Pfalz, Baden and Württemberg. Despite this, growers report excellent ripeness and aromatic wines.

In Spain’s Castilla-La Mancha, relentless August heat cut production by as much as 30%, compounding years of low profitability and drought. Authorities stress a renewed focus on quality and fair pricing.

Meanwhile in California, vineyards have been abandoned or removed as soaring costs outpace returns. Tens of thousands of acres lie fallow, prompting new laws to tackle pest-ridden, unmanaged farms threatening nearby healthy vines.

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The latest Pour Index data reveals that wine lovers in the world’s wealthiest countries pay an average of around £8.20 for a mid-range bottle, roughly in line with global trends and close to what most Europeans spend.

A new comparison of the top ten OECD economies, using Data from Numbio, shows that Germany and Italy offer the best value, at just over £5 a bottle, while the UK and France sit around £6–£8. Canada and Australia reach £9–£10, and prices soar in South Korea (£13) and the US (£11).

Across Europe, prices remain more modest, averaging about £6.20, reflecting lower taxes and strong domestic production. The findings suggest that, despite higher duties in markets such as the UK and Nordic countries, the cost of a decent bottle for consumers in major economies remains reassuringly typical.

Rank Country Mid-range Bottle (£ 2025)
1 Germany £ 5.21
2 Italy £ 5.22
3 France £ 6.09
4 Japan £ 6.39
5 United Kingdom £ 8.00
6 Mexico £ 8.13
7 Canada £ 9.64
8 Australia £ 9.72
9 United States £ 11.25
10 South Korea £ 13.02
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