Bordeaux red wine export values fell 19% in the first quarter

Sales of Bordeaux red wine lost ground at the start of 2026, with export values falling 19% in the first quarter as demand weakened and prices came under pressure, according to new data from Nomisma Wine Monitor.

The research group found that the drop in value was sharper than the decline in volumes. Shipments of Bordeaux reds fell 8% in volume during the period, while the money earned from those exports fell 19%. That gap points to a clear deterioration in average returns for producers and exporters. Based on the data, the average value per unit shipped declined by about 12%.

The figures add to signs of a broader slowdown in the European market for protected designation of origin, or PDO, wines, but Bordeaux reds appear to be under heavier pressure than many other categories. Nomisma’s numbers show French PDO wine exports overall declined 3.4% by value, meaning Bordeaux red wine performed substantially worse than the national average.

The downturn comes as wine consumption patterns continue to shift across major markets. Industry analysts have increasingly pointed to softer demand for red wine, while white and sparkling wines have shown greater resilience. Denis Pantini, head of Nomisma Wine Monitor, described the current environment as a “two-speed market” for PDO exports, with many red wines losing momentum even as other categories limit losses or post gains.

The Bordeaux figures reflect both weaker demand and lower commercial returns. When export volume falls more slowly than export value, it usually means sellers are accepting lower prices, changing product mix, or both. For Bordeaux red producers, that creates another layer of strain at a time when the region has already been dealing with changing consumer habits, competition from other wine styles, and pressure in export markets.

Nomisma’s broader review of the first four months of 2026 showed that PDO wine exports also declined in other major European producing countries. Export value was down 6.2% in Italy, 5.5% in Germany and 8.5% in Spain. Those figures suggest that the weakness is not limited to one region, although the magnitude differs by country and by category.

Among red wines, several leading appellations recorded notable declines. Red PDO wines from Tuscany and Veneto each lost more than 10% in value, according to the data. Rioja posted a 7.5% drop in export value and a 6% decline in volume. Piedmont showed a smaller fall in value, down 2.5%, but its export volumes increased, indicating that average prices moved lower there as well.

The pattern contrasts with the performance of a number of white wine regions. Burgundy and the Loire each posted 6% growth in export volumes for still white wines. White Bordeaux performed even more strongly, with volumes up 16%. That divergence between red and white wine within Bordeaux is especially notable because it suggests the problem is not simply regional but tied to category demand.

Italian whites produced mixed results. PDO wines from Sicily and Tuscany recorded volume growth of 2.8% and value growth of 3.3%, according to the Nomisma data. In Veneto, however, white wine exports fell by nearly 4%. Germany’s Mosel region posted one of the sharpest declines among whites, with exports down 11%, almost twice the drop registered by Germany overall.

Sparkling wine also showed greater stability than reds in several cases. French Crémant exports rose sharply, with volumes up 19.4%. Champagne posted a more modest gain of 3%. Prosecco continued to grow, but only slightly, with export volumes up 0.8%. Cava moved in the opposite direction, with export volumes down 9%.

Taken together, the figures show a market that is fragmenting rather than moving in one direction. Consumers appear to be favoring some sparkling and white wines while pulling back from many red categories, especially those at higher price points or those facing stronger competition. For Bordeaux, the 19% fall in red wine export value suggests that the region is being hit by both lower demand and reduced pricing power.

That matters because Bordeaux has long been one of the most visible and valuable red wine regions in the world. A sustained decline in export returns can affect growers, négociants and producers across the supply chain, particularly in a business where margins can already be tight. Lower average revenue per shipment also raises questions about whether stock is being cleared at discounts or whether buyers are trading down to less expensive wines within the category.

The data was reported by Nomisma Wine Monitor and cited by industry publications including Wine-Searcher. Commentary highlighted that the commercial pressure is no longer visible only in shipment volumes but also in realized returns. In practical terms, that means the market is not just buying less Bordeaux red wine, but doing so at lower average values.

While the report does not isolate one single cause, the trend fits a wider reshaping of wine demand in Europe and other export markets. Red wine has been facing a more difficult environment than whites and sparkling wines for several years, and the latest numbers suggest that pressure remains strong in 2026. For Bordeaux, the gap between falling volumes and even steeper losses in value shows that the challenge is not only to sell more wine, but to preserve pricing in a market that is changing quickly.