CORK'S LEAD WIDENS IN UK RETAIL AND ON TRADE

New research commissioned by APCOR shows cork-sealed wines continue to outperform the wider UK wine market

NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cork is strengthening its position as a quality indicator in the UK wine market, with new research showing that cork-sealed wines continue to command higher average prices, outperform retail and on trade averages, and deliver growth across both mainstream and more premium price points.

Cork growing ahead of market in retail 

Research commissioned by the Portuguese Cork Association (APCOR)* shows that cork-sealed wines within the UK's top 250 off-trade wines retail for an average of £8.19 per bottle, compared with £6.93 for screwcap wines. Cork's price premium has widened from 12.6% in 2021 to 18.2% in 2026, demonstrating a strengthening relationship between cork and value.

Cork-sealed wines generated £344 million in sales during the 52 weeks to 13 June 2026, with value growth of 5.9% year on year, vs total market value growth of 3.5% across the top 250 wines overall.

Cork's relationship with higher-value wine becomes more pronounced as shoppers move up and seek out indicators of quality and sustainability to justify increased spend. Cork accounts for 54.2% of sales value among wines priced above £10 and 72.2% above £12.

Cork also growing in under £10 category as mainstream brands recognise cork as quality signal

Cork's success is not confined to expensive or special-occasion wines. Some of the strongest growth is being delivered by widely available brands at accessible price points including leading brand 19 Crimes from Treasury Wine Estates. 

The performance of these brands demonstrates the commercial opportunity for producers and retailers to use cork as part of a sustainable and quality-led proposition without moving their wines beyond the mainstream market. Cork can support accessible premiumisation, reinforcing perceptions of sustainability, care and value across a wider range of price points.

Growth of white wine under cork 

Crucially, as consumer preferences move towards white wine, cork's market share has doubled from 11% to 22%, while rosé has increased to approximately 5% demonstrating that the trade sees the value of expanding the role of cork beyond red wine and reinforcing the role of cork in this expanding category. 

On trade reinforces the quality narrative

The pattern is also reflected in the on trade. Separate research conducted by NIQ CGA across the top 50 wine brands in the UK on trade found cork-sealed wines command a widening price premium of 74.5% compared to screwcap, up from 20.6% in 2021. Natural cork wines sell for an average of £36.87 per 750ml bottle, compared with £21.13 for screwcap wines, representing a difference of £15.74. The differential has increased over the last four years, driven by stronger average price growth for wines sealed under cork (+3.09% per bottle) compared to screwcap (+1.44% per bottle).

Natural cork wines also command a higher average price by the glass, at £8.60 per 175ml serve, compared with £4.93 for screwcap wines. 

In terms of volume, natural cork volumes increased by 4.4% year-on-year, while screwcap volumes declined by 1.4%. When it comes to value natural cork wines achieved 13.4% year-on-year value growth in the on-trade, compared with 9.6% for screwcap wines. These findings again define the commercial value that cork is adding to the market. 

Demonstrating ongoing value increase for cork, over the last two years (up to May 2026), natural cork wines increased by 47.3% in value and 36.5% in volume, compared with value growth of 13% and a volume decline of 5.6% for screwcap wines within the sample.

Claudia Pimenta, General Director, APCOR comments:

"This is not simply a story about expensive wine. The success of widely available brands at accessible prices shows that cork can help producers and retailers communicate quality across the mainstream market, giving shoppers a recognisable quality cue without taking the wine beyond an everyday price point.

Cork has long played an important role in the presentation of quality wine, and these findings demonstrate the commercial value behind that position. Its price premium is widening, cork-sealed wines are growing ahead of the off-trade, and natural cork is delivering strong value and volume growth in the on-trade. Consumers are drinking less but better, and this has been the trend for a long time. What this research shows us is that while cheaper wines, often bottled under screwcap are losing ground, cork is the signal of quality consumers are looking for."

Notes to editors:

*Research by NIQ UK Retail Top 250 Wines — 52 weeks to 13 June 2026 vs prior year, and NIQ CGA Top 50 wine brands in the GB on-trade MAT Data to Period 5 16/05/2026

Key findings from the report are available, please contact the team [email protected]

About APCOR 
Associação Portuguesa da Cor7ça (APCOR) exists to represent and promote the Portuguese cork industry and its products. APCOR is the employers' association of national scope, created in 1956 and is based in Santa Maria de Lamas, at the heart of the cork industry around 25km south of Porto, Portugal's second largest city. The organization advocates on behalf of the Portuguese cork industry worldwide and is the driving force of an industry based on culture, innovation and sustainability.

SOURCE The Portuguese Cork Association (APCOR)