F1 has partnered with French Bloom, Moët Hennessy’s non-alcoholic sparkling brand, while Nyetimber has become the first English fizz to sponsor England Rugby.

French Bloom, founded in 2019 and now part-owned by LVMH, will be poured across F1 hospitality suites worldwide, offering guests a luxury alcohol-free option. Its wines, made from Limoux grapes and produced via a Cognac-inspired dealcoholisation process, are already served in Michelin-starred restaurants.

Meanwhile, Nyetimber replaces Bollinger as England Rugby’s official sparkling wine, ending a 24-year French association. The Sussex-based producer will be served at Twickenham's Allianz stadium and awarded to players of the match, with CEO Eric Heerema calling the move “a proud moment.”

Together, these announcements highlight the growing influence of both alcohol-free wine and English sparkling wine on the global sporting stage.
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Producers in Portugal’s Tejo region can now label wines with just 0.5% alcohol as PGI, following new rules approved by the Tejo General Council and IVV (Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho I.P.).

The updated regulations lower the minimum abv for IG level wines from 9% to 7.5%, while maintaining 10.5% for standard reds, whites and rosés. Critically, winemakers may now partially dealcoholise wines and still achieve PGI certification, provided the final product contains at least 0.5% alcohol.

Luis de Castro, president of CVR Tejo, sees this as a major opportunity for the UK market. “Tejo’s diversity and cooler climate make it ideal for lighter styles,” he said. “We can now offer a range of exciting new wines that meet the growing demand for moderation.”

The changes are expected to boost Tejo’s presence in the UK, where interest in low-alcohol wines continues to rise.
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For the first time in its history, the International Wine Challenge (IWC) has awarded the prestigious Champion Sparkling Wine title to an English wine – Nyetimber’s Blanc de Blancs Magnum 2016. The West Sussex winery also bagged the English Sparkling Trophy and the English Blanc de Blancs Trophy, with head winemaker Cherie Spriggs named Sparkling Winemaker of the Year for the second time.

Spriggs called the win a “significant first” for English fizz, saying the Blanc de Blancs has always held a special place as Nyetimber’s original wine.
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Champagne’s governing body, the Comité Champagne, has set the 2025 harvest yield at 9,000 kg/ha, the lowest since 2020, as the region adopts a cautious approach in response to global economic and geopolitical uncertainty.

The decision follows consecutive reductions from 12,000 kg/ha in 2022 to 11,400 kg/ha in 2023 and 10,000 kg/ha in 2024. By lowering yields, producers aim to destock and maintain stability while protecting Champagne’s long-term prestige.

Despite the reduced yield, the 2025 growing season is off to a strong start, with mild weather boosting optimism. Maxime Toubart, co-president of the Comité, called the move “a clear-headed, united and responsible decision,” while co-president David Chatillon emphasised Champagne’s resilience and commitment to sustainable viticulture.

Both leaders remain confident that these measures will allow Champagne to adapt, innovate and continue building its global reputation.

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Vineyard numbers in England and Wales have jumped to 1,104, with 25 new wineries registered, according to Wine GB’s 2025 Industry Report.

Vineyard area has grown to 4,841ha, a 510% increase since 2005, and sales are up 3% despite tough market conditions. Exports continue to rise and are now 9% of total sales.

Kent remains the UK’s leading wine county, while Essex has climbed to third, overtaking East Sussex and Hampshire.

Plantings of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir continue to dominate for sparkling wine, with the top 10 grapes being:

Chardonnay
Pinot Noir
Pinot Meunier
Bacchus
Seyval Blanc
Solaris
Pinot Gris
Reichensteiner
Rondo
Pinot Blanc

Still wines remain stable at around a third of production with sparkling making up the rest.



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From 1 August 2025, the US will raise tariffs on European wine and spirits from 10% to 15%, unless negotiators reach a new deal. Talks are expected to resume in the autumn, with EU officials pushing for either zero tariffs or fixed Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rates.

The EU remains determined to secure a better outcome, particularly for wine, where MFN rates would translate to just a few cents per litre. While spirits once enjoyed tariff-free trade under a 1997 agreement, uncertainty remains over whether this will be reinstated.

A senior EU diplomat confirmed that discussions will continue after the US and EU finalise their framework trade deal, agreed last weekend. Industry observers are watching closely, with producers hoping that autumn negotiations could roll back the tariff hike and keep transatlantic trade flowing smoothly. For now, the 15% rate looms large over exporters.

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