A tougher year for bulk wine, but pockets of growth emerge
Global bulk wine shipments experienced double-digit declines in volume and value during the first half of 2026, hit by falling consumption, geopolitical disruptions and shifting trade flows. Yet behind the headline figures lie a number of unexpected developments, as Rafael del Rey explains in this interview based on his latest report.
Inside the 2026 Northern Hemisphere harvest: a vintage of uncertainty
The Northern Hemisphere is harvesting an exceptionally early crop but heat, drought and compressed picking windows have made production unusually challenging to predict – leaving the bulk wine market reluctant to make the first move.
Rethinking bulk wine markets in a changing world
The global bulk wine market is undergoing a major transformation. Driven by shifting trade flows, pressure on established markets, and a reshuffling of export dynamics, industry players must navigate an increasingly uncertain environment.
How premium wineries are repositioning private label
As wineries across the globe groan under the weight of unsold inventory, distributors and retailers are capitalising on current market conditions to offer premium wines at once-unthinkable prices. Call them what you will – own label, private label or control label – exclusive brands are making hay while the sun shines over premium wine regions [...]
The great rebalancing act: the Southern Hemisphere 2026 vintage takes shape
As harvesting wraps up across the Southern Hemisphere’s key wine producing regions, a clearer picture is emerging of both quality potential and volume expectations. The vintage is also shedding light on the challenges facing bulk wine marketers navigating a market still marked by cautious demand and structural imbalance.
How soaring prices brought the Spanish bulk wine market to a standstill
After a consecutive run of short harvests and depleted carryover stocks, Spain’s bulk wine industry appeared to have broken free from the gravitational pull of low prices. That was until geopolitical uncertainty, declining global consumption and soaring prices brought reality crashing back [...]
When every mile counts: how bulk wine logistics are adapting to volatility and cost pressures
Scalating freights costs, ongoing supply chain disruptions and shifts in consumer demand are redefining the parameters of the bulk wine trade – driving the emergence of more agile, responsive sourcing models. As logistics settle into a more complex ‘new normal’, we ask Horst Mueller, Global Head of Vinlog at Kuehne+Nagel, how trade [...]
Less volume, more strategy: bulk wine in 2025
Market analyst Rafael del Rey at Del Rey AWM reviews the key trends shaping the bulk wine market in 2025, a year marked by falling global trade but relative resilience for the bulk segment, supported by competitive pricing strategies, shifting flows and growing diversification into new markets.
