The latest Waitrose Food & Drink Report paints a vivid picture of how wine drinking in the UK is evolving, revealing a shift in taste, attitude and even climate that is reshaping the nation’s habits. Waitrose surveyed a panel of 4,393 customers, in September 2025, for the insights in this year’s report. It is a story of lighter styles triumphing over heavier bottles.
We’re seeing a clear move toward longer, lighter serves that offer the feel of a proper drink without the higher alcohol levels, a shift driven by what many are calling the summer of the spritz, with the vermouth spritz at the forefront. The latest report explores what’s gaining ground and what’s fading in the drinks world, noting that Albariño continues its rise while full-bodied red wines are losing their grip.
Pierpaolo Petrassi MW, head of beers, wines and spirits at Waitrose, explains that bigger isn’t always better. He says drinkers are turning away from the classic, weighty reds and choosing lighter, more easy-drinking bottles, searching for something closer to the character of wines made with less intervention. This movement naturally favours Beaujolais-style reds with modest alcohol levels around 11.5 to 12 per cent, and there’s a growing willingness to chill them or even enjoy them over ice.
On the white wine front, the preference is shifting toward crisp, dry styles. Pierpaolo highlights Albariño, the bright and citrus-led wine from Spain and Portugal, describing it as the darling of the trade.
