International Sherry Week 2026: 2nd-8th November
International Sherry Week 2026 runs 2nd-8th November. Now in its 13th edition, it is the world's largest celebration of sherry wine. Here is everything you need to know and how to get involved.
2026 Alcohol Duty Changes
2026 UK Alcohol Duty Changes: What They Mean For Wine
From February 2026, UK alcohol duty rates will increase again as part of the government’s continued shift toward a system based on Alcohol By Volume (ABV). This means that the strength of a wine now has a direct impact on the level of duty applied, which in turn influences retail pricing.
For wine buyers, merchants and collectors, this makes ABV more important than ever when considering both value and long-term cost. Even small changes in duty per bottle become more noticeable when buying by the case or building a cellar.
How The UK Wine Duty System Works
The UK now applies wine duty using a sliding scale based on alcohol strength rather than a single flat rate. In practice this means:
- Higher ABV wines attract higher duty
- Lower ABV wines are taxed at lower rates
- Duty is calculated in narrower ABV bands than in the past
This system applies to all still wines regardless of origin or style, making alcohol percentage a key factor in overall cost.
2026 Wine Duty Rates By ABV
The table below shows simplified UK duty rates for a standard 75cl bottle equivalent from February 2026.
| ABV | Old Duty | New Duty (from 1 Feb 2026) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5% | £1.88 | £1.95 | £0.07 |
| 9% | £1.99 | £2.07 | £0.08 |
| 9.5% | £2.10 | £2.18 | £0.08 |
| 10% | £2.21 | £2.30 | £0.09 |
| 10.5% | £2.32 | £2.41 | £0.09 |
| 11% | £2.43 | £2.52 | £0.09 |
| 11.5% | £2.54 | £2.64 | £0.10 |
| 12% | £2.65 | £2.75 | £0.10 |
| 12.5% | £2.76 | £2.87 | £0.11 |
| 13% | £2.88 | £2.99 | £0.11 |
| 13.5% | £2.99 | £3.10 | £0.11 |
| 14% | £3.10 | £3.22 | £0.12 |
| 14.5% | £3.21 | £3.33 | £0.12 |
| 15% | £3.32 | £3.45 | £0.13 |
| 15.5% | £3.43 | £3.56 | £0.13 |
| 16% | £3.54 | £3.67 | £0.13 |
| 16.5% | £3.65 | £3.79 | £0.14 |
| 17% | £3.76 | £3.90 | £0.14 |
| 17.5% | £3.87 | £4.02 | £0.15 |
| 18% | £3.98 | £4.13 | £0.15 |
| 18.5% | £4.09 | £4.24 | £0.15 |
| 19% | £4.20 | £4.36 | £0.16 |
| 19.5% | £4.32 | £4.48 | £0.16 |
| 20% | £4.43 | £4.60 | £0.17 |
| 20.5% | £4.54 | £4.71 | £0.17 |
| 21% | £4.65 | £4.83 | £0.18 |
| 21.5% | £4.76 | £4.94 | £0.18 |
| 22% | £4.87 | £5.05 | £0.18 |
Once VAT is applied, the final retail impact is slightly higher than the duty increase alone suggests.
Which Wines Are Most Affected
Not all wines are affected equally. The biggest impact is felt in wines that naturally sit at higher alcohol levels, which is increasingly common in modern winemaking.
Wines most affected include:
- Full-bodied red wines above 14% ABV
- Wines from warmer climate regions
- New World Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz styles
- Rich southern European red wines
As average ABV levels have gradually increased across many regions, more wines are now falling into higher duty brackets than in previous years.
Why ABV Matters More Than Ever
Alcohol by volume is no longer just a label detail for wine. It is now directly linked to taxation and therefore pricing.
Even a small difference in ABV between two similar wines can lead to a measurable difference in duty, particularly when buying in volume.
Impact On Port And Fortified Styles
Fortified wines such as Port sit at significantly higher ABV levels than standard table wines, typically around 19% to 20% ABV. This places them in the upper end of the wine duty structure.
This means Port is naturally more affected by ABV-based duty changes than lighter styles, particularly for collectors and regular buyers.
You can explore more about Port styles through our guides including LBV vs Vintage Port, Ruby Port and Vintage Port declarations.
What This Means For Wine Buyers
ABV now directly influences price
Alcohol strength has become a key factor in how wine is taxed and priced in the UK market.
Higher ABV wines are most affected
Full-bodied wines and warmer-climate styles tend to fall into higher duty bands.
Buying in quantity increases the impact
Small increases per bottle become more significant when purchasing cases or building a cellar.
Wine selection now includes tax considerations
ABV is increasingly part of purchasing decisions alongside origin, style and producer.
Looking Ahead
Duty is only one element of a wine’s final retail price. Other factors such as shipping, packaging, producer costs, importer margins and VAT all play a role in determining the shelf price.
Because the 2026 duty increase broadly follows inflationary trends, most customers are likely to notice only a small adjustment in overall pricing rather than a significant change. In many cases, the impact will be gradual rather than immediately obvious.
The shift toward ABV-based taxation is expected to continue shaping the UK wine market. This places greater importance on transparency around alcohol strength and encourages more informed purchasing decisions.
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