Global Wine Consumption Fell in 2025

The global wine industry entered 2025 with lower consumption, weaker trade and a vineyard base that continued to shrink, according to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine, which said the market remained broadly in balance even as tariffs and shifting drinking habits added pressure.

The group estimated that worldwide wine consumption fell to about 208 million hectoliters in 2025, down 2.7% from the year before. The decline reflected long-term changes in drinking patterns in mature markets, along with broader economic strain on consumers. Some countries still showed growth, including Portugal, Brazil, Japan and parts of Eastern and Central Europe, but not enough to offset the wider slowdown.

Global production was estimated at 227 million hectoliters in 2025, up 0.6% from 2024, when harvests were unusually weak. Even with that increase, output remained below historical averages. Weather continued to shape results across major wine regions, with some areas recovering from poor crops and others still dealing with difficult conditions. Brazil, New Zealand, South Africa and Moldova were among the countries that rebounded after smaller harvests the previous year.

The vineyard surface also kept contracting. The OIV said the world’s planted area fell for a sixth straight year to about 7.0 million hectares in 2025, down 0.8%. The organization said many major wine-producing countries in both hemispheres were adjusting vineyard size to better match current demand.

International trade weakened as well. Wine exports dropped to 94.8 million hectoliters in 2025, down 4.7%, while export value fell 6.7% to €33.8 billion. The OIV said softer demand and trade tensions were weighing on shipments, with tariffs adding another layer of uncertainty for producers and importers.

The United States stood out as a weaker market, with imports falling 12% to €5.5 billion. Even so, the OIV said nearly half of all wine produced globally still moves across borders, underscoring how dependent the sector remains on international commerce.

Despite the drop in consumption and trade, the market was not described as oversupplied in a severe way. The OIV said three consecutive smaller harvests had helped keep supply and demand relatively aligned. When industrial uses such as distillation, vinegar and spirits production are included, at about 30 million hectoliters, the overall surplus in 2025 was estimated at roughly 18.7 million hectoliters.