2025
8
Germany Still, Sparkling and Fortified Wine Market Report 2025
2026-01-11T10:53:54+00:00
REPE86F41F8_6DFF_42AC_B61B_4E686AE88EE2
2995
191092
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Report
en_GB
Germany's wine market continues its downward trajectory. Yet, 44% of wine drinkers/buyers would like to see more wine offered in single-serve formats – a clear sign that moderation and new…
Germany
Wine
simple

Germany Still, Sparkling and Fortified Wine Market Report 2025

"Mindful drinking calls for smaller, lighter formats, while Germans seeking quality demands storytelling that makes premium feel accessible and authentic."

Jack Friedlein, Analyst - Food & Drink

Germany’s wine market continues its downward trajectory. Yet, 44% of wine drinkers/buyers would like to see more wine offered in single-serve formats – a clear sign that moderation and new usage occasions are reshaping demand.

Ongoing economic pressures and an ageing, shrinking household base will drive long-term declines, while alcohol moderation will enable low-/no-alcohol varieties to gain share. High-quality indicators, such as single-vineyard products and sustainable production, can deliver standout value when communicated with compelling storytelling and personable branding.

Growth prospects depend on brands aligning with mindful drinking trends. Smaller formats, lighter styles and low-/no-alcohol variants offer clear avenues for penetration, particularly among 18-34s who prioritise experimentation and alternative packaging. Yet, German wines’ weaker quality perceptions compared to European counterparts present a challenge. To offset this, local producers must leverage provenance, elevate design aesthetics and strengthen direct consumer engagement to maintain share.

This report looks at the following areas:

  • Market drivers influencing the wine market, including economic pressures, changing regulation and demographics
  • Market size and forecast, depicting further decline in both value and volume sales, with sparkling wine outperforming still wine
  • The impact of evolving alcohol moderation on wine consumption and innovation
  • Usage occasions for wine, discussing the importance of adapting to celebrations and more casual consumption
  • The importance of sustainability, transparency and storytelling to convince consumers of quality
Collapse All
  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for still, sparkling and fortified wine
    • Opportunities
    • Embrace moderation – less can be more
    • Demystify premium perceptions
    • Reconstruct taste to target newcomers
  2. THE MARKET

    • Snapshot – market size and forecast
    • Market drivers
    • Germans’ financial confidence holds steady
    • Slight improvement in 2025’s wine harvest is unlikely to significantly reduce price pressure
    • Graph 1: production of wine and must, 2015-25
    • Mindful drinking trend sets up low-/no-alcohol wine for success
    • Graph 2: alcohol reduction in the last 12 months, 2021-25
    • Legal landscape set to push low-/no-alcohol wines further
    • An ageing population and smaller households challenge wine sales
    • Marker size and forecast
    • Volume sales fell further in 2025
    • Graph 3: retail value and volume sales of wine and sparkling wine, 2019-25
    • Downward trajectory forecasted to persist for volume sales
    • Graph 4: retail market forecast volume for still and sparkling wine, 2019-30
    • Value sales have a slightly more stable outlook compared to volume
    • Graph 5: retail market value for still and sparkling wine, 2019-30
    • Sparkling outperformed still wine in 2024
    • Graph 6: value and volume share of still wine, by segment, 2024
    • Brands stayed strong as private label struggled
    • Graph 7: retail value and volume share of wine and sparkling wine sales, by company, 2024
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • Moderation is reshaping usage
    • Wine purchases became more widespread
    • Wine packaging is in need of a shrink
    • Graph 8: format of still, sparkling or fortified wine bought in the last six months, 2022 vs 2025
    • Appeal to young Germans with modern premium products
    • Alcohol moderation is leaving its mark as low-/no-alcohol sales inch forward
    • Marry moderation with celebration
    • Flavour preferences in still, sparkling and fortified wine
    • Novice drinkers seek lighter, more refreshing wines
    • Graph 9: purchases of selected wine varieties in the last six months, by selected age groups, 2023-25
    • Crossovers can introduce greater variety
    • Novice drinkers need greater guidance on flavour
    • Sugar concerns are cutting into wine
    • Build trust with nutritional information
    • Drinking occasions for still, sparkling and fortified wine
    • Germans like a stay-at-home wine
    • Weaker ABV wines are suited for casual weekday consumption
    • Support sociable dual-parent families
    • Cater to celebrations with appealing packaging
    • Quality aspects of still, sparkling and fortified wine
    • Localist desires can bolster German wines
    • Quality perceptions for German wine lag behind Europe
    • Tradition provides quality assurance
    • Demonstrate care to stand out
    • Taste is not enough to sway consumers
    • Focus on accessible quality
  4. PRODUCT, INNOVATION AND MARKETING

    • Low-/no-alcohol wines are set to become more diversified
    • No-/low-alcohol brands tap into various consumer trends
    • Room to innovate in smaller formats and uncommon packaging
    • Graph 10: wine and fortified wine launches, by unit pack size, 2023-25
    • Graph 11: wine and fortified wine launches, by package type, 2023-25
    • Harness the benefits of smaller formats
    • Sustainable innovation pushing into wine
  5. APPENDIX

    • Report scope/market definition
    • The market
    • Forecast methodology
    • Forecast methodology – fan chart
    • Market size and forecast of wine and sparkling wine – value
    • Market size and forecast of wine and sparkling wine – volume
    • Market forecast and prediction intervals – value
    • Market forecast and prediction intervals – volume
    • Market segmentation
    • Volume market share
    • Value market share
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • TURF methodology
    • How to read: TURF analysis
    • Germany generations group
    • Other data source methodologies
    • Mintel Spark
    • Abbreviations
    • A note on language – Germany

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