Rising fuel prices compound market hesitancy The sluggishness of activity on the bulk wine market globally since the turn of the year continued through March into early April, with hesitancy compounded by a rise in fuel prices – by approximately 30%+ in most countries – as a consequence of the conflict in the Middle East. Prices spiked amid the Southern Hemisphere harvests, directly impacting the picking of at least one: this month’s report provides the latest insights from the vineyards. As this month’s California page states, the Iran war is likely to compound some pre-existing consumer pessimism, “with upward pressure on fuel costs exacerbating the reduced spending power consumers have possessed since the 2021-23 post-pandemic inflation spike. Unlike in previous eras when there has been economic misfortune, consumers are pessimistic about the long term – not just the short or medium term – and could curb spending accordingly”. Not wha

For most wineries, marketing still follows a familiar path: email campaigns, wine clubs, tasting room experiences, and social media. These channels continue to drive direct-to-consumer sales, but they are also becoming increasingly saturated. Reaching new customers often requires more content, more spend, and more competition for the same audience. At the same time, another force is shaping consumer behavior at scale—film and television. A single streaming series can influence travel, dining, fashion, and brand awareness almost overnight. Within those moments, wine is already present. It appears in dinner scenes, celebrations, restaurants, and quiet evenings at home, serving as a natural extension of lifestyle and hospitality. Historically, however, the bottles used on screen have rarely represented real wineries. That is beginning to change. Wine product placement is emerging as a viable and strategic marketing channel for wineries looking to expand beyond traditional touchpoin

Recent-vintage stocks growing tighter The 2026 harvests in the Southern Hemisphere are in full swing – a number are ahead of a typical schedule, in fact – and this month’s Global Market Report provides the latest on conditions, grape quality, and crop-size expectations. With one exception, the bulk markets of the world have been quiet over the past month. The introduction to our March 2025 report applies again 12 months on: “The bulk market can be characterised as slow and steady since mid-February, with the Southern Hemisphere focused on harvest and demand in the Northern Hemisphere dampened by flat or declining retail sales and, in Spain, some elevated pricing.” Wary buyers are waiting to see how the harvests affect availability and pricing before committing, perhaps using the intervening time to take the industry pulse at shows like Wine Paris (growing in prominence; we review its recent instalment here) and ProWein, and generally try to gain a read on

Millotte discovered a huge wine event to be more optimistic and energetic than anticipated. Vinexposium Wine Paris is supposed to happen in the middle of a difficult moment for wine. Consumption headwinds. Generational shifts. Distribution pressure. I expected caution, maybe even fatigue. What I found instead was energy. Brighter halls. Open stands. Conversations flowing. At the end of the day, music started, cheese appeared, and business kept happening. Serious, yes... but human. Epicurean. Alive. Optimism was not loud or naive. But people were still investing, traveling, launching, meeting. The industry is not retreating. It is trying to adapt. Get the full scoop from Outshinery founder, Laurie Millotte.

Market slow; older stocks skew availability picture In this month’s Global Market Report, all countries are united in reporting the symptoms of an industry entering the fourth year of a challenging environment: late loadings, late payments, cashflow shortages, and vineyard removals. Already gathering momentum is a belief that 2026 will be another “transitional” year before market stability finally arrives, hopefully in 2027. But many wine industry operators are running out of time for things to improve. On the supply side, strides have been made over the past two years, assisted by shorter winegrape crops across the world: thanks to a combination of Mother Nature and human hand, global production in 2024 was estimated to have been the lowest since 1961, and 2025 production registered only a slight uptick. A significant challenge is the “polluting echo” of older inventory, which gives buyers a skewed perception of abundance. Current or recent-vintage suppl

A pioneer in eco-design for glass packaging for over fifteen years, Verallia takes a new step forward with the launch of Balance, the premium eco-designed range from Selective Line. This innovation, aligned with our purpose of “Reimagining glass for a sustainable future” addresses growing demand for premium packaging that combines exceptional design with a reduced carbon footprint.  Drawing on the expertise gained from the lightweight Ecova range created in 2009 and the ultralightweight Verallia Air range developed in 2023, Verallia is now applying its eco-design principles to its premium Selective Line brand.  THREE LEVERS FOR OPTIMIZED IMPACT  The Selective Line Balance range is built on three eco-design levers, which can be activated individually or in combination:  Lightweighting: premium bottles reduced by an average of 15% compared to the overall Selective Line portfolio.  Recycled glass: colors incorporating higher proportions of recycled gla

Carle, Mackie, Power & Ross LLP (“CMPR”), a leading U.S. law firm with a strong focus in the wine and spirits industry, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a strategic alliance with Légi Conseils Bourgogne (“Légi Conseils”), a premier French law firm recognized for its deep experience advising wine, spirits and luxury beverage clients in France and across Europe. The alliance became effective on January 1, 2026 and follows the recent opening of CMPR’s offices in Lake Oswego, Oregon and St. Helena, California. The collaboration establishes a coordinated cross-border platform to jointly market and provide legal services to clients and prospective clients in the wine and spirits sector throughout the United States and Europe. The alliance is designed to enhance the visibility, capabilities, and integrated service offerings of both firms within their respective jurisdictions, while delivering seamless, industry-specific legal supp

Paris, France – February 2026 — CCL Label, a global leader in premium labelling and packaging solutions, will present its latest innovations for the wine and spirits sector at Paris Packaging Week, held 5th and 6th February 2026 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. At Booth C102, CCL Label will highlight how the future of premium packaging lies at the intersection of high-end design, advanced embellishment, and sustainability – responding to growing brand demand for packaging that delivers visual distinction while meeting environmental expectations. Redefining Premium Through Sustainable Innovation CCL Label’s showcase demonstrates how luxury and responsibility can coexist without compromise. The company will unveil a range of solutions designed to elevate brand storytelling and shelf impact while supporting more sustainable outcomes, including: Sustainable Shine: High-impact embellishments engineered with sustainability in mind Premium labels and slee