There’s an interesting article at Drinks Retailing News on independent wine retailer trends. Wine remains a key focus for independent UK drinks retailers, with France and Italy once again ranked as the most popular countries of origin, followed by Spain.
Areas of growing interest have shifted, with Greece topping the list, closely followed by Portugal, England and parts of Eastern Europe, including Georgia and Romania. Georgia, in particular, is attracting attention for its traditional qvevri-aged wines.
Sauvignon Blanc continued to dominate as the most popular grape variety, followed by Chardonnay, with Pinot Noir and Malbec also frequently mentioned. Looking ahead, no single variety stood out overwhelmingly, but several, including Syrah, Assyrtiko, Albariño, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Chardonnay and Primitivo, were seen as having strong growth potential. Retailers suggested consumers are increasingly drawn to more unusual or distinctive wines that are not typically found in supermarkets.
Low- and no-alcohol wines are expected to become more prominent in 2025, largely due to changes in duty, which favour lower-ABV products. Dry whites and fruit-forward reds were identified as continuing trends, with some predicting these styles, along with lower-alcohol wines, would maintain momentum. While beer currently leads low/no-alcohol sales, wine is increasingly seen as a strong contender for future growth in this segment. Improvements in production have enhanced the quality of non-alcoholic wines, especially sparkling varieties.
