Ireland’s wine market continued its upward trajectory in 2025, confirming a steady recovery phase after years of volatility in global trade.
According to customs data analyzed by Interprofessional Wine Organization, total wine imports reached EUR 353.1 million and 88.4 million liters, marking increases of 4.6% in value and 4.7% in volume compared to 2024.
This growth reflects a combination of stabilized consumer demand, improved logistics, and a more predictable trading environment. However, pricing dynamics reveal a more nuanced picture: the average import price edged down slightly by 0.1% to EUR 4 per liter, suggesting competitive pressure among exporters and a shift toward value-driven purchasing.
Packaged Wine Continues to Dominate
The Irish market remains heavily oriented toward packaged wine formats, including bottled wines, sparkling wines, and bag-in-box. This category accounted for the vast majority of imports, reaching EUR 349.9 million in value (+4.4%) and 87.6 million liters in volume (+4.5%).
Despite the growth, the average price for packaged wine slipped marginally to EUR 3.99 per liter, reinforcing the idea that volume expansion is currently outpacing premiumization in this segment. Retail dynamics, private labels, and supermarket-driven demand likely continue to shape this trend.
Bulk Wine: Small Segment, Strong Momentum
While bulk wine still represents only a minor share of total imports, it delivered the most striking growth in 2025. Imports surged by 34.8% in value to EUR 3.2 million and 26.7% in volume to 0.75 million liters.
Interestingly, this segment also recorded a 6.4% increase in average price, reaching EUR 4.25 per liter. This could indicate a shift toward higher-quality bulk shipments or reflect rising logistics and sourcing costs. For suppliers, bulk wine may represent a strategic entry point into the Irish market, particularly for private-label and on-trade channels.
France and Italy Strengthen Their Positions
In terms of supplier dynamics, France maintained its leadership by value, exporting wines worth EUR 83.1 million to Ireland (+11.5%). Italy followed with EUR 57.1 million, posting an even stronger growth rate of +17.8%.
By volume, Chile remained the leading supplier, shipping 17.3 million liters (+2.7%), highlighting its continued competitiveness in entry-level and value-driven segments. Italy (16.9 million liters, +13.6%) and France (15.5 million liters, +15.1%) also recorded robust gains, demonstrating their balanced positioning across both premium and volume categories.
Spain Faces a Challenging Year
In contrast, Spain experienced a notable decline in the Irish market. Packaged wine exports dropped to approximately EUR 30 million (-11.2%) and 5.5 million liters (-19.9%), placing Spain fifth by value and sixth by volume.
The downturn extended to bulk wine, where Spain ranked fifth by value and fourth by volume, with relatively modest export figures. This decline may reflect increased competition from Italy and Chile, pricing pressures, or shifts in distributor and retailer preferences.
A Market on a Steady Growth Path
The broader trend highlighted by OIVE shows that Ireland’s wine imports have been on a consistent upward path since 2020. The 2025 data reinforces this trajectory, with growth evident across most categories and supplier countries.
France and Italy continue to anchor the premium and mid-range segments, while Chile dominates in volume. Meanwhile, emerging dynamics in bulk wine and pricing suggest that the market is evolving toward greater segmentation and efficiency.
Key Takeaways for the Wine Trade
Ireland’s wine import market offers several strategic insights for producers and exporters:
- Stable growth in both value and volume signals a resilient consumer base
- Competitive pricing is shaping purchasing decisions, particularly in packaged wine
- Bulk wine presents niche but rapidly expanding opportunities
- Supplier competition is intensifying, with clear winners and losers emerging
For wine businesses looking to expand in Northern Europe, Ireland remains a market worth watching—dynamic, competitive, and increasingly sophisticated in its consumption patterns.
Source: Vinetur