Fruit mulled wine with strong growth

As early as 2021, the German apple and fruit wine sector succeeded in returning to pre-Corona levels with its winter specialities. In 2022, domestic sales of apple- or fruit wine-based hot beverages increased significantly once again compared to the previous year, from 9.4 million litres to 11.7 million litres (+23.6%). Christmas markets were held again and the seasonal specialities were also in greater demand in the trade. "Fruit mulled wine, punch and other winter drinks held their own in the portfolio of apple and fruit wine producers in 2022 as the segment with the strongest growth," sums up Klaus Heitlinger, Managing Director of the Association of the German Fruit Wine and Sparkling Fruit Wine Industry (VdFw). "The fruit wine-based hot drinks were able to successfully decouple themselves from the winter weather with their sales. The industry is therefore starting the new mulled wine season in an optimistic mood," says Heitlinger.

Today, fruity specialities are an integral part of the range of winter drinks. Unlike mulled wine, they are not made from grape wine but 100 percent fruit wine and refined with spices such as cinnamon or cloves. The ready-to-drink products only need to be heated. The top three in terms of sales are cherry mulled wine, blueberry mulled wine and apple mulled wine. But more unusual varieties such as elderberry, sloe and berry mulled wine are also in demand. In addition, there are new products with chilli or ginger, for example. Many producers offer apple and fruit mulled wines in organic quality.

Domestic sales of cider, fruit wine, cider and other apple- and fruit wine-based beverages, including hot drinks, amounted to 107.7 million litres in 2022, 3.9 percent above the previous year's result of 103.6 million litres. In the same period, the sector's turnover rose from 122 million euros to 133 million euros (+9 per cent).