Demand for fresher wines pushes wineries toward stainless steel tanks

Wine producers around the world are buying more stainless steel tanks as wineries adapt to demand for fresher and lighter wines, according to a new market study that points to a broader shift in production methods and equipment spending.

The study, published by Market Intelo, estimates the global winery tanks market at $1.8 billion in 2025 and says it could grow to $2.7 billion by 2034, a projected annual growth rate of 4.8%. The report, based on research through late 2025 and data verified as of June 2026, describes winery tanks as a core part of modern wine production, covering fermentation vessels, storage tanks and mixing equipment used by both large commercial wineries and smaller producers.

At the center of the change is stainless steel. Market Intelo said stainless steel tanks held the largest share of the market in 2025 at 42.5%, ahead of concrete at 28.3% and oak at 16.8%. The report also said stainless steel accounted for about 85% of commercial winery tank purchases worldwide, reflecting its strong position in new investments and replacement cycles. Italian wine outlet WineNews linked that trend to changes in consumer demand, saying wineries are spending less on wood, especially oak, and more on stainless steel as the market asks for wines that are fresher, lighter and cleaner in style.

WineNews cited a separate sign of that shift in France, where cooperages, which make oak barrels and large oak vessels, are facing weaker business. The outlet reported an 11% drop in the value of French cooperage turnover in 2026 compared with 2025. Oak remains important for aging premium red wines, but it is increasingly a narrower part of the production chain than it was when wood played a larger role across more categories of wine.

Market Intelo said stainless steel has become the preferred material because it is easier to sanitize, durable, resistant to corrosion and well suited to precise temperature control. Those features matter in commercial wineries that need consistent output, regulatory compliance and the ability to monitor fermentation closely. Modern tanks can also be fitted with automated controls and sensor-based systems that allow wineries to track temperature and other fermentation conditions in real time.

The shift in equipment spending is taking place alongside growth in vineyards and wine production in several parts of the world. The report said global wine production reached about 258 million hectoliters in 2025, up from 247 million hectoliters in 2020, while global vineyard acreage is expected to rise from about 7.8 million hectares in 2025 to 8.2 million hectares by 2034. Market Intelo said expansion has been especially strong in non-traditional producing countries such as China, India and Vietnam, where wineries are building capacity and often choosing newer production systems from the start.

Asia Pacific was the largest regional market for winery tanks in 2025 with 35.2% of global revenue, according to the report. Market Intelo said that position was driven by investment in China and Australia and by emerging wine regions in India and Vietnam. Europe accounted for 28.8% of the market, supported by modernization in established wine countries such as France, Italy, Spain and Germany. North America held 21.4%, with the United States still anchored by California but also showing demand in Oregon and Washington.

The report said the strongest demand still comes from commercial wineries, which represented 62.3% of end users in 2025. Boutique wineries accounted for 21.7%, while home winemakers and small-scale producers made up 12.4%. Commercial wineries remain the largest buyers because they need extensive tank capacity and have regular equipment budgets, but the report said smaller producers are also contributing to growth as online sales make entry-level and mid-size equipment easier to buy.

By application, fermentation tanks remained the biggest segment at 48.9% of the market in 2025, followed by storage at 31.4% and mixing and blending at 14.8%. Fermentation tanks are drawing the most investment because they require the highest level of control over temperature, oxygen and sampling. Storage tanks continue to be important, especially as premium wines often need longer aging periods before bottling, even if that aging is increasingly managed in stainless steel or in a combination of materials rather than in wood alone.

The report also points to pressure from regulation and quality control. Wineries in major markets are facing tighter sanitation, traceability and food safety requirements, which favor equipment that is easier to clean and document. That has supported upgrades even in regions where vineyard acreage is not expanding quickly. At the same time, manufacturers are trying to differentiate themselves with automation, energy-efficient cooling systems and modular designs that let wineries add capacity in stages instead of making a single large investment.

Market Intelo said the competitive field is moderately consolidated, with Della Toffola Group and Paul Mueller Company among the leading companies, alongside manufacturers such as Speidel Tank-und Behälterbau GmbH, Letina Inox, Zambelli Enotech Srl, CIMEC Srl and Santa Rosa Stainless Steel. The report said competition is likely to intensify through 2034 as lower-cost manufacturers in Asia expand and as digital sales channels help smaller suppliers reach boutique wineries, hobbyists and new producers entering the market.