The Guardian reports that Tesco anticipates a growing consumer preference for lower-alcohol drinks during the forthcoming Christmas trading period, reflecting broader changes in British drinking habits and increasing interest in health-conscious consumption. The prediction accompanies Tesco’s latest financial results, which show first-half sales increasing by 2% to £33.8 billion and an improved profit outlook. Although the report covers the supermarket’s wider retail performance, its expectations for lower-alcohol consumption are particularly relevant to the wine industry, where producers and retailers are reassessing traditional drinking occasions and developing strategies for consumers seeking moderation. The outlook provides another indication that changing attitudes towards alcohol are influencing the British drinks market.
UK
-
Thieves Pinch 500kg of Grapes From Norfolk Vineyard
AOL reports that around 500kg of grapes were stolen from Winbirri Vineyard in Surlingham, Norfolk, enough fruit to produce roughly 400 bottles of wine. Owner Lee Dyer believes the thieves may have intended to make wine themselves, after harvesting workers discovered that two 120-metre rows had been stripped. The grapes were Bacchus, an increasingly important variety for English still wine, and Dyer described the loss as disheartening after the work invested throughout the growing season. The article was published at 20:44 UTC on 6 October, putting it comfortably inside the 24-hour window.
-
Tesco Might Buy Majestic
London South East reports that that Tesco is among the bidders considering the acquisition of Majestic Wine Group after owner Fortress Investment Group began a formal sale process, with analysts suggesting the business could fetch hundreds of millions of pounds. Majestic has more than 200 stores across the UK and Jersey and also supplies the hospitality sector through its commercial operations and Enotria brand, while one analyst suggested Tesco could pursue a deal through its Booker wholesale arm
-
English Winemakers Expect ‘Vintage Year’ After Record-Breaking Summer Heat
The Guardian reports that English sparkling wine producers are expecting an exceptionally early 2026 harvest after the UK’s record-breaking summer accelerated grape ripening. Nyetimber began picking on 14 September, five days earlier than its previous record, and expects the vintage could produce more than 1.5 million bottles, although late spring frost and drought reduced yields in some vineyards. The combination of smaller berries, concentrated sugars and extensive sunshine has raised expectations for quality while illustrating how rapidly English viticulture is being affected by changing climatic conditions.
-
An English Rival to Prosecco?
Jancis Robinson examines the rapid growth of MDCV UK’s Silverhand Estate in Kent, which is aiming to produce a cheaper English alternative to Prosecco. Instead of using the traditional champagne-style method, MDCV makes “sparkling wine of England” using the faster Charmat or tank method, allowing bottles to sell for about £15 rather than the £30-plus often charged for traditional English sparkling wine. The company sold around 500,000 bottles last year, expects to double that figure this year and ultimately wants to become England’s largest wine producer by 2030. Jancis highlights both the opportunity and the risks of this approach. Cheaper sparkling wine could make English wine accessible to many more consumers, but its lower quality may also weaken perceptions of English fizz, while confusing labels make the distinction between the two styles difficult to understand. Silverhand is also investing heavily in sustainability, conservation and wine tourism, while benefiting from a glut of English grapes that has sharply reduced its costs.
-
Henkell Freixenet Offloads UK Wine Merchant to Compagnia del Gusto Holding
Global Drinks Intel reports that Freixenet Copestick has sold London-based Jascots Wine Merchants to Italy’s Compagnia del Gusto Holding for an undisclosed amount. Staff assigned to Jascots are expected to transfer with the business, while the new owner plans to use Jascots’ on-trade network to expand its Italian food and wine portfolio in Britain, alongside continued distribution of existing partner producers.
-
Top Wineries of Great Britain 2026 revealed
The Drinks Business reports that Nyetimber has retained first place in The Real Review’s 2026 ranking of Great Britain’s leading wineries, becoming the first producer to win the title three times and in consecutive years. Langham Wine Estate placed second and Coates & Seely third, with the ranking generated from blind-tasting scores assessed by Anthony Rose, Young Shi and Rosemary George MW.
-
First British-Made Sparkling Wine Bottle Enters Production
Croxsons and Encirc have begun production of Sovereign, the UK’s first British-made sparkling wine bottle, created for English and Welsh producers as the sector expands and seeks a domestic alternative to imported glass. Made in Cheshire with 49% post-consumer recycled glass, the amber bottle offers up to 99% UV protection, supports a more localised and resilient supply chain, and is already being adopted by producers including Three Choirs and Ridgeview.
-
Rare Grapes, New Regions and Still Wines Shake Up UK Wine Awards
Hort News reports that the WineGB 2026 Awards point to a broader and more experimental English and Welsh wine sector, with still wines again surpassing sparkling wines in entries and total medals. The awards saw 24 grape varieties win medals, including Gamay, Cabaret Jura, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabaret Cortis and Riesling, while Hampshire and Dorset were highlighted as rising regional forces alongside established leaders Kent and Sussex.
-
UK Pub Wine Sales Face Pressure From Duty and Falling Demand
The Morning Advertiser reports that wine sales in pubs remain under pressure, with NIQ and CGA data showing still wine and Champagne down 8% last year, and sparkling wine down 6%. The article points to duty increases, pricing pressures and consumer caution, but also highlights operators using staff training, preservation systems, broader lists and more by-the-glass options to make wine feel more approachable and profitable in pubs.
-
Grupo Peñaflor Owner Acquires Off-Piste Wines
The Drinks Business reports that Terold Invest, owner of Argentina’s Grupo Peñaflor, has acquired UK wholesaler Off-Piste Wines, owner of brands including Most Wanted and The Wanderer. The deal is positioned as a strategic push into the UK, with Off-Piste selling around 3 million nine-litre cases a year and the combined business expected to become a top-five supplier to the UK off-trade.
-
Rosé Sales Defy the Wider UK Wine Slump
Harpers, citing the WSTA’s latest market report, says rosé is still outperforming in the UK, with 2025 volumes up 3%, value up 5%, and total sales reaching £882 million. The data suggests pink wine is no longer just a summer category, because it also posted gains in the winter trading period, while red and white still wine volumes fell 6% and 4% respectively. The wider takeaway is that rosé remains one of the few clear pockets of resilience in a difficult still wine market.
-
UK Champagne Market Returns to Growth
The Drinks Business reports that the UK Champagne market grew again in 2025, with shipments rising 1.9% to 22.7 million bottles, the first annual increase since 2021. The article says the recovery looks stronger in volume than in value, with importers pointing to steadier pricing and better sales of Brut NV, while some premium cuvées are still under pressure. It also notes that the UK now accounts for about 15% of total Champagne exports, helped in part by softer US demand.
-
Fears Rise Over a Possible UK Bottle Supply Crunch
The Drinks Business reports that fresh strike action at Encirc Elton, a major glass supplier for supermarket own label wine and other drinks brands, has raised new concerns about disruption to the UK bottle supply chain. The union argues that walkouts in April and May could hit bottle availability, while Encirc is pushing back hard, saying there will be no shortages and that contingency plans are in place, so the immediate issue is less about confirmed disruption and more about a tense standoff over how exposed the drinks trade really is to packaging risk.
-
Court Warns of Lengthy Process Winding up Oenofuture’s Liquidation
The Drinks Business reports that the High Court has appointed joint liquidators for Oenofuture Limited, the wine investment arm tied to the Oeno Group, and warned that the compulsory winding up is likely to be a long and complicated process. The article says around 2,600 investors paid money into the company, that an estimated 80% of client wine was held by Oenofuture Limited, and that customers have already been cautioned they may not recover all their money.