What U.S. Wine Drinkers Want in 2025: A Conversation With Dr. Liz Thach MW, Pres. Wine Market Council

In this episode of The Vint Podcast, hosts Billy Galanko and Brady Weller welcome Liz Thach MW, a leading expert in wine market research and President of the Wine Market Council. Thach’s work focuses on understanding U.S. wine consumers, analyzing how trends like premiumization, sustainability, and alternative wine styles are shaping the industry. Thach also highlights the challenges facing small wineries, the evolution of direct-to-consumer strategies, and the role of storytelling and education in building stronger connections with buyers. Key Topics:Premiumization: Consumers are drinking less but spending more on quality.No- and Low-Alcohol Wines: A growing segment driven by wellness trends.High-Alcohol Sweet Reds: Unexpected popularity among younger consumers.Big vs. Small Wineries: Large brands leverage distribution, while small wineries focus on direct engagement.Consumer Engagement: Storytelling and education are key for brand loyalty. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the Vint Podcast 02:19 Vint Marketplace News  06:42 Interview with Liz Thach: Master of Wine 24:48 Major Trends in Wine Consumption 26:36 Direct-to-Consumer Wine Sales 27:03 Eco-Friendly Wine Study 27:45 Current Trends in the Wine Market 29:05 The Rise of Alcohol-Free Wines 30:39 High Alcohol Sweet Wines 46:20 Alternative Packaging and Eco-Friendly Initiatives 48:30 Challenges and Strategies for Wineries Resources & Further Reading: Vint Marketplace – Your destination for premium wines from top producers around the world. Wine Market Council – Research on U.S. wine consumer trends. Liz Thach MW on Forbes – Articles on wine business and industry insights. The Vint Wine Podcast is a production of the Vint Marketplace, your source for the highest quality stock of fine wines and rare whiskies. Visit www.vintmarketplace.com. To learn more about Vint and the Vint Marketplace, visit us at Vintmarketplace.com or email Brady Weller at brady@vint.co, or Billy Galanko at Billy@vintmarketplace.com. Cheers! Past Guests Include: William Kelley, Peter Liem, Eric Asimov, Bobby Stuckey, Rajat "Raj" Parr, Erik Segelbaum, André Hueston Mack, Emily Saladino, Konstantin Baum, Landon Patterson, Heather Wibbels, Carlton "CJ" Fowler, Boris Guillome, Christopher Walkey, Danny Jassy, Kristy Wenz, Dan Petroski, Buster Scher, Andrew Nelson, Jane Anson, Tim Irwin, Matt Murphy, Allen Meadows, Altan Insights, Tim Gaiser, Vince Anter, Joel Peterson, Megan O"Connor, Adam Lapierre, Jason Haas, Ken Freeman, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Skyler Weekes, Mary Gorman McAdams, Nick King, Bartholomew Broadbent, Nick Jackson, Dillon Sykes, Mark Bell, David Keck, John Szabo, Channing Frye, Jay Hack, Julia Harding, Austin Hope, Michael Minnillo, Jermaine Stone, Jim Madsen, Santiago Archaval, Tom Smith, Sebastian Lowa, Matthew Crafton, Tony Parker, Andrew Caillard, Mike Veseth, Madeline Puckette, John Olney, Matthew Kaner, Amelia Singer, Chess Martin, Gaia Gaja, Liz Thach, Sarah Heller, Jess Druey, James Cluer, Eduardo Chadwick, Terry Theise, and more!