South Africa’s 2026 wine harvest reached 1.37 million tonnes, placing it firmly back in the upper-middle of the country’s recent historical range and marking the strongest crop since 2022.

The figure is above last year’s smaller vintage and broadly in line with South Africa’s typical modern production band of around 1.2 to 1.5 million tonnes.

That puts 2026 closer to a 'normalised' recovery year after more variable and weather-affected seasons earlier in the decade, rather than a record-breaking peak or a structural expansion in output.

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President Donald Trump has warned the European Union it must approve a long-awaited trade framework by 4 July or face higher tariffs on exports, raising pressure on the wine trade.

Trump made the comments as his administration pushed Brussels to finalise last year’s deal intended to ease transatlantic tensions and stabilise trade flows, but officials say progress has slowed amid political resistance in several member states.

European wine producers in France, Italy and Spain are watching closely, warning that higher tariffs could hit US sales, raise prices for importers, and squeeze margins across the distribution chain during key summer trading months.

The July 4 deadline now leaves negotiators a narrow window to secure approval, with analysts saying failure to reach agreement could trigger a fresh round of tariffs affecting a wide range of European exports entering the United States if talks stall further in coming weeks and months ahead.

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Wine-Searcher, the world's largest pricing database for wine and spirits, has been acquired by GLX U.S. Inc, a subsidiary of the Goudet family's investment company, Platin Sarl. The company will remain headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, while continuing operations in the UK.

Chief executive Julian Perry said the business is excited about its next phase of growth, particularly after years of investment in technology, data and AI. GLX said it plans to support further expansion, especially in the key US market.

Wine-Searcher currently lists 18 million drinks offers from 35,000 retailers across 130 countries. The platform serves around 60 million users annually and processes millions of daily searches and website requests.

The company says it will continue developing AI tools and strengthening its position as a leading source of drinks market intelligence.

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The US government is seeking to reintroduce tariffs similar to those struck down by the Supreme Court, but the move is being slowed by legal constraints, strict investigation rules and the risk of WTO challenges from trading partners.

Officials are instead relying on alternative trade law tools such as Section 301 and national security provisions under Section 232, which require formal investigations into alleged unfair practices or trade imbalances. These processes involve months of evidence gathering, public consultation and detailed product-by-product justification before any tariff can be imposed.

Unlike the previous emergency-based approach, broad blanket tariffs are unlikely to pass legal scrutiny, forcing the government to design highly specific measures targeting individual goods or sectors.

This increases administrative delay and exposes the policy to legal appeals domestically and potential dispute settlement challenges at the World Trade Organization, adding further uncertainty for importers and trading partners.
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US wine imports fell 8.3% in 2025, a US$565m decline, highlighting pressure on trade, shifting consumer demand and uneven consumption patterns.

New York, California and Texas drove 50% of the fall, while smaller states declined by a lesser degree. The downturn coincided with tariff disruption on European wine, ruled illegal by the US Supreme Court, adding policy uncertainty and expected refunds across affected goods.

Despite pockets of growth in states like Pennsylvania and Oregon, the overall picture points to a cooling import market for wine and evolving drinking habits across the United States.

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France has granted a 120-day emergency approval for AXPERA, giving winegrowers a new tool against downy mildew in 2026. The biocontrol product can now be used during peak spray months while regulators consider full approval.

The authorisation, issued by the French Ministry of Agriculture following industry requests, runs from May to August. It follows a similar 2025 approval and comes as regulators near a final decision on permanent use.

AXPERA stands out for how it works. Rather than acting as a conventional fungicide, it uses compounds derived from amoeba to both disrupt the pathogen and stimulate the vine’s natural defences through Induced Systemic Resistance. This dual mode reduces infection pressure while priming the plant to resist disease.

In practice, AXPERA is designed for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes. It is used preventatively and in rotation, helping growers lower reliance on copper and reduce resistance risks linked to single-site chemistry.

With mildew pressure rising and copper restrictions tightening, AXPERA offers a timely addition. While not a standalone solution, it fits neatly into modern spray programmes, bridging the gap between traditional chemistry and next-generation biological control.

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