Wine in the UK - Statistics & Facts
The global wine market is facing strong headwinds and the market in the UK is no exception. Revenue in the UK market declined by during the pandemic but has since rebounded. On the other hand, volume has not returned. Consumers have been affected by both higher cost of living and higher bottle prices, due to higher production costs and an increase in alcohol duty rates.
As wine consumption continues to shrink domestically, UK wine producers will likely need to look to other markets for continued growth.
Decreasing volume
Already trending towards more e-commerce sales, the online sales channel gained market share in the first year of the pandemic but then shrank slightly as consumers returned to in-person shopping. Online sales are expected to grow in the coming years. Wine production in the UK has picked up substantially in recent years. Since the pandemic low of 66,107 hectoliters, production has risen 145 percent to an all-time high of 162,000 hectoliters in 2023. Despite the revenue headwinds, the number of wineries has continued to grow, reaching a high of 221 in 2023.Asia as a trading partner
In terms of trade, Hong Kong was the second largest export market for wine from the United Kingdom, and Asia and Oceania was the largest regional partner. In contrast, the UK imported about three times the value of wine from the European Union as it did from all other countries. France was the country from which the largest value of wine was imported.Shrinking consumption
As with other consumer goods, the price of wine has risen. The consumer price index for wine rose in 2024 for the eighth straight year. When consumers in the UK purchased a bottle of wine in 2024, they were most likely to choose a still wine. Per capita consumption of still wine reached 13.26 bottles in that year. This was nevertheless a reduction of over three percent compared to the prior year. Overall per capita wine consumption was down for the fifth consecutive year. Wine drinkers spent the most on the Hardys wine brand, which generated sales of 299.5 million GBP.As wine consumption continues to shrink domestically, UK wine producers will likely need to look to other markets for continued growth.
