Vinetur reports that Europe’s 2026 bulk wine trading season has opened under difficult conditions, with producers in France, Italy and Spain facing substantial inventories and cautious purchasing. Drawing on market intelligence from Ciatti, the article explains that grape harvests finished unusually early in several regions, but this has not generated a corresponding increase in buying activity. Weak international consumption, inflation, high financing costs and substantial stocks from previous vintages are putting downward pressure on bulk wine prices. Buyers are increasingly negotiating smaller, selective purchases rather than committing to large contracts, leaving producers with limited bargaining power and uncertainty about when trading conditions might improve.