Cork-Sealed Wines Outpace Market Rivals in UK Retail and On-Trade

Research commissioned by the Portuguese Cork Association (APCOR) highlights a widening value gap. Among the UK's top 250 off-trade wines, those under cork retail for an average of £8.19, compared to £6.93 for screwcap alternatives. This 18.2% price premium has grown steadily from 12.6% in 2021. Sales figures for the 52 weeks ending June 13, 2026, show cork-sealed products generating £344 million, reflecting a 5.9% year-on-year growth that comfortably outstrips the 3.5% gain seen across the broader top-250 market.

The trend is even more pronounced in the on-trade sector, where natural cork bottles fetch an average of £36.87—a 74.5% premium over the £21.13 average for screwcaps. While screwcap volumes in pubs and restaurants have dipped by 1.4%, natural cork volumes surged by 4.4%. Claudia Pimenta, General Director of APCOR, notes that this shift transcends luxury labels. Mainstream brands, such as 19 Crimes, are increasingly utilizing cork to signal quality and sustainability to shoppers who are choosing to drink less but opt for higher-quality bottles. As consumer preference shifts, cork has also doubled its market share in white wine to 22%, proving its utility as a versatile tool for producers looking to justify increased retail spend.