M&S Discontinues Eise Mulled Wine From Holiday Range

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/11/18 .. ntinues-eise-mulled-wine-from-holiday-range.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Tuesday, November 18th 2025 at 13:57 GMT by London Evening Standard
      Locale: UNITED KINGDOM

M&S pulls the plug on its holiday mulled wine – what this means for shoppers

The familiar scent of cinnamon, orange peel and a splash of red wine that used to fill the aisles of Marks & Spencer’s seasonal food range has finally been silenced. In a small but noticeable headline, the London‑based retailer announced that its long‑running festive mulled wine – the “Eise Mulled Wine” – will no longer be stocked for the upcoming Christmas season. The decision, reported by the Evening Standard on Monday, has prompted a mixture of surprise and relief among loyal shoppers, while raising questions about the future of M&S’s broader holiday offering.

A brief history of the product

M&S first launched the Eise mulled wine in 2015, partnering with the French wine producer Eise – a brand known for its light‑bodied reds and approachable price points. The product was sold in a range of sizes – a 750 ml bottle for the typical family, a 500 ml single‑serve version for quick snacking, and an 1 L bottle for the big parties. The brand’s packaging was immediately recognisable: a bright orange label with a stylised illustration of a bottle and a tagline that promised “the taste of a warm holiday evening”.

Over the years the mulled wine became a staple of the M&S holiday range. It was stocked alongside the more conventional “M&S Winter Wine” and the ever‑popular “M&S Winter Champagne”, and many shoppers came to count on it as part of their own festive meal traditions. The Standard’s article notes that, while it was not a high‑margin product, it did provide a “pleasant, mid‑price point” that attracted a fairly wide cross‑section of customers, from families to office lunch‑room groups.

Why the discontinuation?

The article reports that M&S has opted to discontinue the product for a combination of supply‑chain and strategic reasons. A spokesperson for the retailer explained that “the holiday product range is under constant review, and we’re shifting our focus to items that are more profitable or that fit with our long‑term brand strategy.” The spokesperson also added that M&S was looking to reduce the number of low‑margin items in its seasonal catalogue in order to allocate more shelf space to higher‑margin, higher‑volume categories such as artisanal cheeses and premium chocolates.

In a more detailed follow‑up, M&S said that the partnership with Eise had become “logistically complex” due to the wine’s reliance on a seasonal harvest and the need for special packaging that was not as scalable as other items. While the Standard quoted the company’s statement that “this decision was not made lightly”, it left the door open for a possible re‑introduction in future years if market conditions improved.

What does this mean for shoppers?

For regular consumers, the disappearance of the mulled wine will mean one less easy‑to‑grab option for holiday drink. The Standard’s article highlighted that many customers had grown used to ordering the 750 ml bottle online for quick delivery. In the wake of the decision, the retailer has updated its website to remove the product and has added a FAQ page explaining that “our holiday range is constantly evolving and is based on seasonal supply, demand and profitability”.

While M&S will no longer carry the Eise mulled wine, it is still possible to purchase the product from other retailers. A quick search on the Eise website shows that the mulled wine is available for purchase directly from the French producer, as well as from supermarket chains such as Argos and B&Q. The wine is still sold in the same sizes and at a similar price point – roughly £8.99 for a 750 ml bottle – but customers will no longer have the convenience of ordering it through the M&S online shop.

The broader impact on M&S’s holiday range

M&S’s holiday product lineup has historically been a blend of the familiar and the novel. The retailer has always sought to curate a “feel-good” assortment that marries quality with accessibility. The removal of the mulled wine comes at a time when M&S is pushing a number of new holiday items, such as a range of fruit‑infused sparkling wines and a “M&S Winter Cocktail Kit” featuring pre‑mixed drinks. The company is also testing new packaging formats – for example, “ready‑to‑pour” glass jars for their Christmas wine selection – which it claims will reduce packaging waste and improve shelf life.

The Standard’s article points out that the decision may reflect a broader shift in consumer behaviour. Recent market studies, cited in the piece, suggest that holiday shoppers are increasingly favouring “premium, low‑carbon” products. M&S’s own data shows that sales of its “holiday wine” range have been on a slow decline over the last three years, while high‑margin items such as the “M&S Winter Cider” and “M&S Winter Grape” have been growing.

What customers can do next

While the M&S mulled wine will no longer be available, there are still plenty of options for those who love a warm, spiced drink. The Standard suggests exploring the following alternatives:

• M&S’s own “Winter Mingle” – a ready‑to‑serve red wine infused with holiday spices that is available in a 500 ml bottle. This product is cheaper and can be enjoyed immediately, without the need to heat it up.
• Eise’s own “Mulled Wine – French” – which can be bought directly from the brand’s website. It is still a familiar option for those who prefer a brand‑specific product.
• DIY at home – the Standard’s article provides a short recipe, sourced from M&S’s own “Holiday Recipes” page, for making your own mulled wine from a bottle of red wine, a cinnamon stick, orange peel and a splash of brandy.

Final thoughts

The decision to pull the Eise mulled wine from M&S’s seasonal range is a clear sign of the retailer’s ongoing efforts to streamline its holiday catalogue. While it may come as a disappointment to some loyal shoppers, it also reflects a broader industry trend of prioritising higher‑margin, more scalable products and reducing inventory complexity. For consumers who were counting on M&S’s mulled wine as part of their holiday tradition, the news might feel a bit abrupt. Yet the brand’s continued presence in other retailers and the rise of new holiday offerings ensures that the spirit of the season – and the comforting warmth of a good mulled wine – is still very much alive.