CONSUMERS BRANCH OUT FROM CHARDONNAY

Chardonnay no longer takes center stage among white wine varietals. While it may be the main contender, varietals such as Pinot Grigio/Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling are drawing more attention from wine drinkers then ever before, according to a report in Wine Business Monthly by Mary-Colleen Tinney. The report suggests it has something to do with the American palate, which tends to like fruitier, sweeter flavor profiles. Secondly, the alternative varietals tend to pair better with Asian and Mexican cuisines, which are increasingly popular in the U.S. Lastly, consumers are much more willing to branch out then in years past.

“There was a lot of commentary and backlash from a small group of people against Chardonnay because the styles were getting very big, oaky, vanilla and malolactic,” said Chris Lynch, chief marketing officer at Beam Wine Estates, in the article.

Over the last year, the overall wine market has risen 4% by volume, with Chardonnay under performing the market with 3% growth, according to Nielsen data. Pinot Grigio/Gris has grown 15%, Sauvignon Blanc rose 6% and Riesling added 24% in volume over the last year.

Despite the alternatives’ success, says Mary-Colleen, nobody believes, at this point, that any of the alternative whites are going to challenge the dominance of Chardonnay, which claims 23% of the market.