WINES SALES DWINDLE SLIGHTLY IN EARLY FALL
Wine sales growth dwindled slightly in early autumn, with overall sales growing 7.3% in the 13 weeks ending October 20 and case volume sales up 3.7 %, according to Nielsen scan data. In the 52 weeks ending October 20, dollar sales rose 6.7% and volume increased 3.4%.
IMPORTS GAIN IN SUPERS. Domestic table wine sales were up an impressive 6.8% in the 13 weeks, compared to imported sales which grew 8.5% in the period. Domestics lost -0.3% of dollar market share, while imports gained 0.3%. Volume of domestic table wine increased only 3.3% from the previous year and imports grew 5.2% - a considerable drop from the summer. With that said, imports gained 0.3% of volume share, while domestics lost -0.3% in the 13 weeks to October 20. It looks like consumers are continuing to buy more imported wine brands at higher prices.
As a rule, 52-week numbers are slower to show trends and these are no different. In the 52 weeks ended Oct. 20, dollar share of both domestic and imported wines were flat. Domestic volume share, however, was down -0.3% while imports were up 0.3%.
Once again, South African wines led imports in dollar growth in the 13 week period, followed by New Zealand, Portugal and Argentina. The top three importers by dollar was Italy (10% share), Australia (9.5%) and France (3%). Australia lost -0.4% share pts. in the period while Italy and France were flat. Dollar sales for Italy grew 7.8% in the 13 weeks to October 20, while Australia was up 3.1% and France jumped 5.6%.
While Australia lost its top spot in the dollar category, it remains ahead of Italy and France in terms of case volume. Australia held an 8.5% market share in the 13 weeks, compared to Italy’s 7.6% and France’s 1.9% claim.
RED WINE BARRELS FORWARD. As usual, red wine out sold white in the 13 weeks to October 20. Red wine dollar sales rose 9.3% in the 13 weeks, while white wine increased a respectable 6.6%. Meanwhile, red wine volume was up 6.4% and white grew 3.2%. In the 52 weeks ending October 20, red wine gained 1.1% of dollar share and white wine lost -0.4%.
The red varietals grew like weeds, leaving Riesling as the white wine champion. Dollar sales of Cabernet Sauvignon grew 11.4 % in the 13 weeks to Oct. 20, while volume was up 10.5%. Pinot Noir was the true winner with dollar growth of 24.4%, followed by Zin at 15.9%, Chianti at 6.3%, Merlot at 2.3% and Syrah/Shiraz at 1.1%.
Now, on to our lighter colored friends. Riesling blew the white wine category out of the water with dollar sales growth of 24.1% and volume growth of 23.6%. Pinot Grigio sales grew 12.9% in the early fall followed by Fume/Sauvignon Blanc, up 11.9%. Old faithful Chardonnay increased 3.3% by dollar sales and 2% by volume.
PREMIUM AND ABOVE MAKES PERFECT. Wines priced in the $12-$15 range grew the most in dollar sales, up 17.9% and 16% by volume. Meanwhile, wines in the $15 and above category followed suit at 16.4% and 15.2%, respectively. Lower end wines showed some growth, but at a much smaller rate than the premium and super-premium wines.
IMPORTS GAIN IN SUPERS. Domestic table wine sales were up an impressive 6.8% in the 13 weeks, compared to imported sales which grew 8.5% in the period. Domestics lost -0.3% of dollar market share, while imports gained 0.3%. Volume of domestic table wine increased only 3.3% from the previous year and imports grew 5.2% - a considerable drop from the summer. With that said, imports gained 0.3% of volume share, while domestics lost -0.3% in the 13 weeks to October 20. It looks like consumers are continuing to buy more imported wine brands at higher prices.
As a rule, 52-week numbers are slower to show trends and these are no different. In the 52 weeks ended Oct. 20, dollar share of both domestic and imported wines were flat. Domestic volume share, however, was down -0.3% while imports were up 0.3%.
Once again, South African wines led imports in dollar growth in the 13 week period, followed by New Zealand, Portugal and Argentina. The top three importers by dollar was Italy (10% share), Australia (9.5%) and France (3%). Australia lost -0.4% share pts. in the period while Italy and France were flat. Dollar sales for Italy grew 7.8% in the 13 weeks to October 20, while Australia was up 3.1% and France jumped 5.6%.
While Australia lost its top spot in the dollar category, it remains ahead of Italy and France in terms of case volume. Australia held an 8.5% market share in the 13 weeks, compared to Italy’s 7.6% and France’s 1.9% claim.
RED WINE BARRELS FORWARD. As usual, red wine out sold white in the 13 weeks to October 20. Red wine dollar sales rose 9.3% in the 13 weeks, while white wine increased a respectable 6.6%. Meanwhile, red wine volume was up 6.4% and white grew 3.2%. In the 52 weeks ending October 20, red wine gained 1.1% of dollar share and white wine lost -0.4%.
The red varietals grew like weeds, leaving Riesling as the white wine champion. Dollar sales of Cabernet Sauvignon grew 11.4 % in the 13 weeks to Oct. 20, while volume was up 10.5%. Pinot Noir was the true winner with dollar growth of 24.4%, followed by Zin at 15.9%, Chianti at 6.3%, Merlot at 2.3% and Syrah/Shiraz at 1.1%.
Now, on to our lighter colored friends. Riesling blew the white wine category out of the water with dollar sales growth of 24.1% and volume growth of 23.6%. Pinot Grigio sales grew 12.9% in the early fall followed by Fume/Sauvignon Blanc, up 11.9%. Old faithful Chardonnay increased 3.3% by dollar sales and 2% by volume.
PREMIUM AND ABOVE MAKES PERFECT. Wines priced in the $12-$15 range grew the most in dollar sales, up 17.9% and 16% by volume. Meanwhile, wines in the $15 and above category followed suit at 16.4% and 15.2%, respectively. Lower end wines showed some growth, but at a much smaller rate than the premium and super-premium wines.
posted at 10:04 AM
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