Cider and fruit wines continue to grow in sales

“The German cider and fruit wine industry can post a solid result in 2024, result,” summarizes Klaus Heitlinger, Managing Director of the Association of German Fruit German Fruit Wine and Sparkling Fruit Wine Industry (VdFw), on the occasion of the presentation of the annual results at the VdFw general meeting in Bad Neuenahr. The domestic sales of cider, fruit wine, cider and other cider- and fruit wine-based beverages
beverages produced on the basis of cider or fruit wine fell by 3.9 percent in 2024 from 103.6 million liters to 99.5 million liters. At 135.7 million euros, turnover in 2024 was slightly above the previous year despite the decline in sales, slightly above the previous year's level of 135.1 million euros. This continues the growth trend that has been ongoing since 2019: at that time, the industry achieved sales of 114 million euros.

The production of cider and fruit wines has a long tradition in Germany. Cider still plays a key role. Today, it is also available as single-variety, alcohol-free or organic. As typical of the cider and fruit wine industry as the classics, however, is its broad product range, which includes cider and other beverages containing apple or fruit wine as well as apple and fruit mulled wines. “The cider and fruit wine producers successfully provide variety in the range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and also set seasonal accents with their products,” says Heitlinger: ”A fruit or sparkling apple wine appeals to a different clientele than a cider or a fruit wine cocktail. With a good mix of classics and novelties, cider and fruit wine producers are also able to appeal to new and younger consumers.”

With domestic sales of around 39.7 million liters in 2024, cider remains the strongest
strongest industry product and can increase its share of domestic sales by cider and fruit
fruit wine producers from 39.2% to 39.9%. Beverages produced on the basis of cider and fruit wine, including cider spritzers, spritzers, punch and other products containing fruit wine, are now the second mainstay of the industry. Domestic sales of beverages containing apple and fruit wine (excluding winter drinks) amounted to 36.8 million liters in 2024, which corresponds to a 37% share of sales.