New NielsenIQ data reveals natural cork commands widening price premiums, captures luxury revenue, and drives growth across categories

NEW YORK, Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- According to new strategic market research conducted by the Portuguese Cork Association (APCOR) and the Natural Cork Council (NCC) using the latest NielsenIQ data for the 52-week period of July 2025 - July 2026, Cork closures continue to extend their leadership position in the U.S. wine market, serving as the primary engine of off-premise revenue and price realization across both mainstream and luxury tiers.

During this period, cork-sealed wines generated 62.3% of all domestic off-premise wine sales (at a value of $7.74 billion) and nearly half of total case volume (56.32 million cases) across the $12.42 billion total U.S. market. When isolating traditional 750ml glass bottle formats in core premium wine tiers ($8.00+), cork closures commanded 73.8% of all bottle sales revenue ($7.20B) and 70.8% of all bottle case volumes, reinforcing its position as the ultimate indicator of quality and value for U.S. consumer wine purchases.

Cork's Value-Creation Advantage at the Premium and Luxury Level
In the study, it was found that cork-sealed wines had a clear role in creating additional value for wineries when compared with screwcaps and alternative closures, averaging $137.37 per case (~$11.45 per bottle) across all price tiers compared to screwcaps at $107.92 per case (~$8.99 per bottle) and alternative closures at $44.63 per case (~$3.72 per bottle).

Within the premium category of wines priced above $8.00, the value of a bottle sealed with cork rises to $147.88 per case (~$12.32 per bottle). This pricing power translates directly to dominance in high-end categories, with cork capturing 95% of total domestic revenue in the Luxury tier ($25.00+) and 54% in Ultra Premium wine sales ($15.00–$24.99). In the competitive Top 100 U.S. wine brands sold segment, cork secures an overwhelming 97% of Luxury tier revenue during the 52-week window.

Accessible Premiumization & Mainstream Brand Growth
Upon analysis of the results, cork's success as a closure extended well beyond special-occasion wines, with a number of high-velocity brands at accessible price points favoring the closure.

Within the Top 100 U.S. wine brands sold segment, 100% cork-sealed 750mL glass bottles account for 8 out of the top 10 SKUs for revenue growth and 9 out of the top 10 volume-growth SKUs, a clear sign that leading wineries see cork as a powerful asset for accessible premiumization.

Cork's Growth in White Wine Categories, Led by Chardonnay
While cork closures remain most prevalent in U.S. red wine categories (sealing 89% of all SKUs priced $8.00+), its footprint in white wine continues to expand. In the Top 100 U.S. wine brands sold segment, cork-sealed wines accounted for 49% of all active white wine SKUs and generated 44% of total white wine revenue ($3.15 billion) in the 52-week period. Within the $8.00+ price tiers, white wine maintained a 75% cork SKU presence.

Chardonnay continues to be a benchmark variety for cork, driving over half of all white U.S. wine sales ($1.60 billion) and capturing a clear leadership majority across the category (59.9% revenue share / $961 million).

In the growing Sauvignon Blanc category, cork-sealed bottles indexed at a +34.5% higher average case realization ($130.51/case) compared with other white wine category averages. Cork-sealed Sauvignon Blanc also commanded a +14.3% price premium over screwcaps ($144.17 vs. $126.13/case).

During Challenging Times, a Closure the Market Can Trust
Amid recent macroeconomic headwinds in the U.S. wine industry, results show cork-sealed wines have demonstrated superior market stability for brands when compared to alternative packaging options. While non-glass and synthetic alternative closures suffered a steep -28% YoY revenue contraction in the Popular Premium tier ($8.00–$11.99), upper-tier cork sales remained resilient (dropping just -2% YoY in Luxury).

These U.S. findings closely align with key European benchmarks, proving that cork serves as a universal quality bulwark across major global markets. In the UK, research commissioned by APCOR using Nielsen IQ data for the top 250 UK brands revealed that cork-sealed wines commanded an 18.2% price premium in retail and a 74.5% premium in on-premise dining.

This trend was reinforced by APCOR in its French Nielsen IQ study looking at the top 120 selling AOP and IGP still wines between €8 and €20. It was found that cork seals nearly 86% of references and captures 86% of total sales value across the Top 120 brands. Cork also sealed 9 of the top 10 best-selling wines by value—including all of the top 30 red wines—and commanded a 15% to 26% average price premium over screwcaps and alternative closures, widening significantly as price tiers climbed.

Patrick Spencer, Executive Director, Natural Cork Council comments:
"Natural cork isn't just for special occasion bottles. It is the leading revenue driver for the entire U.S. wine market. Capturing over 62% of domestic off-premise dollar sales and driving 8 out of the top 10 revenue-growth wines in the country, cork provides everyday shoppers with an immediate signal of quality and sustainability. As U.S. consumer preferences evolve toward higher quality and white wine styles, this data proves that cork remains the ultimate seal of trust for American wine novices and connoisseurs alike."

To learn more about APCOR, please visit https://apcor.pt/en/home and the Natural Cork Council visit https://naturalcorkcouncil.org/

Notes to Editors:
*Research Data by NielsenIQ & CGA Retail Performance Audit, Trailing 52 Weeks (L52W H1 2026)
For more information and questions about the full report, contact ereilly@colangelopr.com

About APCOR
Associação Portuguesa da Cortiça (APCOR) exists to represent and promote the Portuguese cork industry and its products. APCOR is the employers' association of national scope, created in 1956 and is based in Santa Maria de Lamas, at the heart of the cork industry around 30 kilometers from Porto, Portugal's second largest city. Membership of the association is open to all companies operating in the fields of production, marketing or export of cork products. The organization advocates on behalf of the Portuguese cork industry worldwide and is the driving force of an industry based on tradition, innovation and sustainability.

About the Natural Cork Council
The Natural Cork Council (NCC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating both wine consumers and industry professionals about the importance and benefits of cork as the most sustainable wine closure. Its mission includes ensuring the highest quality of natural cork while supporting sustainable forest management and preserving the biodiversity of Portugal's cork oak forests. More information can be found at https://naturalcorkcouncil.org/.

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SOURCE APCOR