The global wine industry continues to face significant headwinds, including declining still wine consumption, economic uncertainty, inflationary pressures, and changing consumer preferences.
Yet amid these challenges, sparkling wine remains one of the most resilient and dynamic categories in the beverage sector, according to ProWein's first-ever report dedicated exclusively to sparkling wines.
Published on June 23, the comprehensive study highlights how sparkling wine is successfully adapting to changing market conditions through innovation, premiumization, sustainability initiatives, and the emergence of new consumption occasions. The report estimates the global sparkling wine market will be worth USD 54.67 billion in 2025, while worldwide consumption reached approximately 3.32 billion bottles in 2024, representing only a modest decline after years of sustained growth.
Sparkling Wine Becomes an Everyday Choice
One of the report's key findings is the transformation of sparkling wine from a product traditionally reserved for celebrations into a beverage increasingly consumed throughout the year.
Consumers are embracing sparkling wines as aperitifs, cocktail ingredients, and casual drinks for social gatherings. Industry experts believe younger generations are driving this shift by integrating sparkling wine into everyday consumption occasions rather than limiting it to holidays and special events.
This evolution creates opportunities for producers to increase purchase frequency while attracting new consumer segments seeking freshness, versatility, and approachable wine styles.
Premiumization and Health-Conscious Consumption
The report identifies several major trends shaping the future of the category.
Consumers are increasingly willing to pay more for quality, authenticity, and distinctive regional identities. Premium sparkling wines continue to outperform many other wine categories, with buyers seeking artisanal production methods, sustainable practices, and wines with a clear sense of origin.
At the same time, demand is growing for drier styles, organic wines, and lower-alcohol alternatives. Health-conscious consumers are increasingly looking for products that align with moderation and wellness trends without sacrificing quality or enjoyment.
Prosecco Strengthens Its Global Leadership
Among all sparkling wine categories, Prosecco remains the undisputed leader in terms of volume.
In 2025, production of Prosecco DOC reached 667 million bottles with a market value of approximately EUR 3.6 billion, representing annual growth of 1.1%. More than 80% of production is exported to 164 countries worldwide.
The United States remains the largest export market, while France has emerged as one of the fastest-growing destinations, surpassing Germany in volume. Rosé Prosecco continues to gain momentum and now accounts for nearly 10% of total production.
At the premium end of the market, Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG achieved even stronger growth, expanding by 8% and reaching 98 million bottles produced by 220 wineries. Industry representatives note that younger consumers increasingly view premium Prosecco as an attractive alternative to Champagne.
Champagne Focuses on Premium Positioning
While Champagne remains the world's most prestigious sparkling wine category, the region continues to adjust following the exceptional post-pandemic sales boom.
Sales volumes declined modestly in 2025, while revenue fell from approximately EUR 6.5 billion to EUR 5.7 billion. Industry observers attribute part of this correction to rising prices that pushed certain luxury cuvées beyond what many consumers consider acceptable spending levels.
In response, Champagne producers are focusing on innovation through single-varietal expressions, site-specific bottlings, and Brut Nature styles. Sustainability is also becoming a strategic priority, with the region targeting full sustainable certification of its vineyards by 2030.
Crémant Emerges as a Major Success Story
Among Europe's sparkling wine categories, Crémant stands out as one of the strongest performers.
Sales reached a record 123 million bottles in 2025, increasing by 7.5% year-on-year. Exports now account for more than 40% of production, reflecting growing international recognition.
The category benefits from offering traditional-method production, hand harvesting, and strong quality standards at more accessible price points than Champagne. Many consumers now actively seek Crémant for its quality, freshness, and value rather than viewing it merely as an alternative to Champagne.
Challenges for Cava and German Sekt
Not all categories enjoyed positive results.
Spanish Cava experienced a significant decline, with sales falling by 13% in 2025. Several years of drought and reduced harvest volumes have contributed to supply challenges, while producers increasingly focus on premium segments such as Gran Reserva and Paraje Calificado wines.
Germany's Sekt market also recorded a decline, although small and medium-sized producers managed to increase sales slightly. Industry discussions continue regarding the development of a formal quality classification system to better distinguish premium bottle-fermented products from larger-scale tank-fermented styles.
Austria, meanwhile, continues to provide an example of successful category positioning through its established Sekt Austria PDO quality pyramid, which clearly differentiates production standards and quality levels.
New Sparkling Wine Regions Gain Recognition
The report highlights the growing importance of emerging sparkling wine regions beyond the traditional European powerhouses.
Franciacorta continues to strengthen its international reputation, while the United Kingdom's sparkling wine industry has experienced remarkable growth, nearly tripling sales over the past six years. Climate change is increasingly supporting grape ripening conditions suitable for premium sparkling wine production in southern England.
Hungary's Pezsgő category is also gaining international attention, particularly through the use of Furmint, a grape variety prized for its acidity and suitability for sparkling wine production.
Outside Europe, California remains a major production center, while Tasmania continues to build its reputation as one of the Southern Hemisphere's most exciting sparkling wine regions.
The Rise of Alcohol-Free Sparkling Wine
Perhaps the most significant long-term opportunity identified by ProWein is the rapid expansion of alcohol-free sparkling wines.
Germany alone sold more than 22 million bottles of alcohol-free sparkling wine in 2025, representing nearly 9% of the country's total sparkling wine market. Leading producers report double-digit annual growth rates across their alcohol-free portfolios.
Analysts expect this trend to accelerate as younger consumers increasingly embrace moderation and wellness-focused lifestyles. Industry forecasts suggest the global non-alcoholic wine market could reach USD 3.78 billion by 2030, with sparkling wines accounting for approximately 60% of the category.
Outlook: Resilient Growth Through Innovation
ProWein's report concludes that sparkling wine is uniquely positioned to navigate the challenges currently affecting the broader wine industry.
By embracing premiumization, sustainability, lower-alcohol alternatives, and new consumption occasions, sparkling wine producers are successfully adapting to evolving consumer expectations. While market conditions remain complex, the category's versatility, strong brand identities, and growing appeal among younger consumers suggest that sparkling wine will continue to outperform many traditional wine segments in the years ahead.
Source: Vinetur