RED WINE SALES SHOOT THROUGH MARCH

In the latest Nielsen food, drug and liquor scans for the four weeks to March 10, total table wine sales grew 5.9% from the previous year while volume was up 2.8%. Blush wines continue to struggle (down 2%), while red wine once again blew white out of the water. With recent health reports to thank, red wine sales were up 8.9% while white wine lagged at 3.9%.

Despite growing concerns over imports, domestic wine sales rose 6.4% leaving imports behind at only 4.7% growth. Portuguese wine led imports last month jumping 30%, followed by the usual leader, New Zealand, with sales up 28.1%. Argentinean, Spanish, South African and German wine all followed suit, while Australian wine sales grew only 2.8% in the U.S. with volume up 3.5% from the previous year. French wine sales and volume were down 0.7% and 4.5%, while Italian sales grew 5.3% and volume rose 3.9%.

Now, moving on to varietals. Pinot Noir showed the most growth with a 24.6% jump in March, followed not too far behind by Riesling (22.5 %). Chardonnay (1.5%), Merlot (4.5%), Cabernet Sauvignon (13.2%), Syrah/Shiraz (0.9%), Pinot Grigio (13.3%) and Sauvignon Blanc (5.2%) all posted sales growth with the exception of Syrah which was practically flat. White Zinfandel was down yet again posting a sales loss of 2.7%.