Wine-Searcher reports severe oversupply across the bulk-wine market, with some California producers reportedly giving premium Pinot Noir away simply to empty tanks before the next harvest. Buyers at the International Bulk Wine & Spirits Show showed limited interest beyond categories such as Sancerre and white Burgundy, while distributors said they were reluctant to accept unfamiliar products or wines without established demand. The report also highlights substantial vineyard reductions and redundancies, alongside growing US retailer demand for higher-margin private-label wines.
Bulk wine
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California’s Oversupply Persists, Even as Grape Shortage Talk Grows
Wine-Searcher reports from the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium that California is still awash with unsold wine, even as analysts debate whether a grape shortage could emerge by summer 2026. It describes a wager between SVB wine executive Rob McMillan and bw166’s Jon Moramarco, set against an industry backdrop where no one expects sales to rebound in 2026 and many expect stress, consolidation, and closures before a broader recovery.