Following the Supreme Court’s striking down of Trump’s previous tariff regime, the US president has announced a 15% global tariff. UK wine and spirits exporters may face higher duties, adding fresh uncertainty to trade across the Atlantic.

The new 15% levy, announced on 21 February 2026, could increase the average US tariff on UK exports by 2.1% – the largest rise for any nation.

Nicola Bates, CEO of Wine GB, told Harpers that while the US remains a promising market, the move could make doing business more expensive, with costs ultimately passed to consumers. “Despite the potential tariff, demand for high-quality English wines continues to grow,” Bates said. “We’re seeing export sales rise 35% year-on-year, and nearly 10% of UK wines now reach international markets. While we await full details, this development highlights both opportunity and challenge for domestic producers eager to expand across the Atlantic.”

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French rosé sales make up 30% of UK retail rosé sales, but are dominated by one brand, La Vielle Ferme, when translated - the old farm - affectionately known as The Chicken Wine due to the two chickens on the label! Their rosé from the Rhone Valley accounts for 35% of all France’s rose sales in UK supermarkets and wine merchants, this is over 7 times larger than the number two French rosé by Kylie Minogue.

La Vielle Ferme sales amounted to a whopping 13.9 million bottles in 2025, while Kylie Minogue sold 1.8m bottles. Both these delicate coloured rosé wines are Vin de France and not produced in the famous Provence region. The third most popular wine sold in the UK retail market is Whispering Angel with 1.4m bottles. It is also the first wine that actually comes from Provence, but the only brand in the top 5 UK rose retail market.

The top 10 is below:

1. La Vieille Ferme rosé: 13.9m bottles
2. Kylie Minogue rosé: 1.8m bottles
3. Whispering Angel rosé: 1.4m bottles
4. La P’tite Pierre rosé: 1.13m bottles
5. Le Bijou de Sophie Valrose rosé: 1.1m bottles
6. Miraval Studio rosé: 578,000 bottles
7. Coeur de Cardeline rosé: 452,100 bottles
8. Mirabeau rosé: 355,000 bottles
9. Mirabeau Pure: 342,000 bottles
10. Minuty M rosé: 314,000 bottles

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With the trend to lighter styles of red wines, a new style of wine is gaining traction, Blouge wine. It is a blend of red and white grapes that promise lighter red almost rose wines, very on trend at the moment, and helps to create balanced wines in the face of climate change.

The style started in Alsace in the 2010’s by co-fermenting red and white wines together as has been done in Northern Rhone and Chianti for centuries. Adding white grapes to red, softens tannins in the red wines, while adding fresh acidity and aromatic lift, creating lighter styles more suitable for casual dinning and drinking.

The lighter pale wines avoid EU rules that ban rosé wine production by blending red and white grapes. But adding red and white grapes together before fermentation finishes is allowed under EU rules. The wines are not considered a rosé but a new style called blouge made by mixing of the French word blanc and rouge. Blending finished white and red wines are still banned in general in the EU, but co fermenting is ok, as long as it is not for rosé production. But because they are not recognised as a style most have to use the most basic Vin d France.

The trend may have started in Alsace but are being made all over France, the USA and Australia. Almost anywhere winemakers want to experiment.

According to Sarah Campbell of IWSR, a market research company, blouge wines are generally lower in alcohol than red wines and more versatile to food pairing compared to rosé. Blouge wines are often targeted at new younger wine drinkers.

Sales are small but showing impressive growth, for example, Boogie Woogie wines made by Aubert & Mathieu from Languedoc, sold 20,000 bottles in 2025, up 40% on 2024 sales according to Anthony Aubert, who claimed “it is an interesting start for a new segment”.

Blouge may also help with climate change. As the climate warms, picking grapes when the tannins are ripe can result in wines with very high alcohols and low acidity. By adding earlier harvested white grapes it lowers the alcohol and boosts the freshness.

Examples:
France, Bordeaux Jacques Lurton and Vignobles André Lurton, ‘J’. (Cab Franc, Sauv Blanc)

Australia, Adelaide Hills, Gentlefolk, Rainbow Juice, (Sangiovese, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc)

USA, California Las Jaras Superbloom (Chenin Blanc, Viognier, Carignan Grenache Noir)

France, Languedoc, Aubert & Mathieu, Boogie Woogie, (Grenache Noir and Grenache Gris)

France, Alsace, Claude Straube, Bobo Blouge No2 (Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir)

France, Lucas Madonia, The Blouge, (Riesling, Sylvaner, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot)

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Ridgeview Wine Estate, one of England’s best-known sparkling wine producers, has been bought by an investor consortium after entering administration last year. The deal safeguards the Sussex estate’s future and introduces new leadership to drive expansion.

Ridgeview Wine Estate has been acquired by QBRidge Ltd, a consortium led by The Quantum Beverage Company, for an undisclosed sum.

Administrators from FRP Advisory were appointed in September 2025, but operations continued uninterrupted.

Founded in 1995 by Mike and Chris Roberts, the Sussex estate will receive fresh capital and strategic support to accelerate UK and international growth. Gregg Ainsworth becomes chief executive, with Allan Beattie appointed chief financial officer, both from QBev.

The Roberts family will remain involved. Tamara Roberts steps down as chief executive after more than two decades in leadership but continues to champion the brand and English sparkling wine, while head winemaker Simon Roberts stays with the business.

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Wine Paris has strengthened its status as a leading international wine and spirits fair, posting record visitor and exhibitor numbers and drawing a markedly larger global audience, signalling growing confidence and renewed energy across the drinks trade.

Wine Paris reported 63,541 visitors from 169 countries, with international attendance rising 21% to represent just over half of all guests. Exhibitor numbers also climbed to 6,537 from 63 countries, reflecting similar global growth. Producers from California, Australia and New Zealand expanded their presence, while new sections spotlighted spirits and low- and no-alcohol drinks in response to wellness trends. Wine GB were also present to showcase English wine producers.

The show hosted around 180 masterclasses and workshops, including a high-profile appearance by Kylie Minogue, whose wine brand has sold 25 million bottles. France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, attended the opening day, underlining the event’s rising political and commercial importance.

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Global wine output edged higher in 2025, rising 3 per cent after 2024’s historic low, according to International Organisation of Vine and Wine, as mixed regional harvests brought a cautious rebound despite climate strain and softer demand.

In the northern hemisphere, Italy stood out with a 7 per cent increase and became the world’s largest producer, while France and Spain recorded sharply smaller crops due to drought, heat and vineyard restructuring. US production rose slightly but stayed below recent averages.

Southern hemisphere volumes grew 7 per cent, led by Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. New Zealand delivered its second-largest harvest on record, helped by expanding vineyard area reported by New Zealand Winegrowers. Even so, most producers remain below five-year averages, notes Wine Australia.

Longer term, global production has fallen more than 20 per cent since 2018, while consumption continues to slide. Forecasts from IWSR suggest demand will shrink a further 1 per cent annually, keeping pressure on supply and prompting calls for vineyard rationalisation worldwide.
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