Glass half full: the changing landscape of vineyards and wine

2025’s edition of The Wealth Report painted a sobering picture of the challenges facing the wine industry.

A year on, drinking habits may be changing; but progressive producers are taking advantage of the shift.

With challenge comes opportunity. Here we outline five trends impacting the global wine industry – and highlight some of the regions best placed to benefit, while experts from across the division share their local perspectives.

Climate change prompts lighter wines

Climate change is having a profound effect on some of Europe’s traditional grape-growing regions, reducing yields and altering grape quality.

Growers are recalibrating varieties and adopting new growing and winemaking techniques, while production is shifting to cool-climate wine regions or to areas where rising average temperatures have made wine production now viable. Grapes grown in cooler conditions also produce lighter wine that many consumers are switching to.