Harpers reports, in a 2 April trade update, that preliminary IWSR data for 2025 show total beverage alcohol volume fell 2 per cent across 22 markets, while wine volume dropped 4 per cent and wine value fell 2 per cent. One notable exception was Prosecco, which grew in both volume and value, suggesting that familiar, more accessibly priced sparkling wine is still proving more resilient than much of the wider category.
Prosecco
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EU Defends Champagne and Prosecco Names in Trade Deals
The Drinks Business reports that the EU is treating wine as a red-line issue in trade negotiations, even while offering limited concessions on agricultural imports such as beef and sheep meat. According to its summary of Euronews reporting, Brussels continues to insist on strong protection for geographical indications such as Champagne and Prosecco, with partner countries often required to restrict or phase out those names in export markets. The broader takeaway is that the EU sees wine names tied to origin as strategic commercial assets, not just labelling details.
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Essex Police Seize 67,000 Bottles of Fake Wine
The UK Food Standards Agency reports that its National Food Crime Unit, working with the Metropolitan Police and other partners, has seized more than 67,000 bottles of counterfeit or misrepresented wine and Prosecco, worth about £500,000, from three warehouses in North London and Essex. The FSA says a 61 year old man was arrested on 3 March on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and later released under investigation, with enquiries still continuing, making this one of the biggest fresh food fraud stories affecting the wine trade today.