July 2026 data from Liv‑ex, reported by The drinks business and WineBusiness.com, show US fine‑wine buyers firmly back in the game, taking the largest share of global purchasing value in Q2 and helping to stabilize prices after several years of correction.
The Liv‑ex H1 Report indicates that in Q2 2026 US buyers accounted for 26.9% of global fine‑wine purchase value, up from 23.3% in Q1 and well above the 2025 average of 20.7%. This renewed activity contrasts with a slowdown from some Asian buying hubs, with the US effectively offsetting weaker demand from regions that had previously driven much of the market.
The report also notes that US purchasers were paying, on average, 1.1% above market price on Fine Wine 1000 trades in Q2, compared with just 0.03% above in Q1, suggesting that American buyers are not only active but willing to pay close to fair value rather than seeking deep discounts. For the global fine‑wine market, this renewed US participation is a key piece of the story behind the gradual stabilization seen in the main indices.
Sources: The drinks business; WineBusiness.com.
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