News - 26.11.09

Wine Slightly Outpaces Spirits in Dollar Sales

Note from Evan Goldstein MS from Full Circle Wine Solutions.

Wine grew at a slightly faster rate than spirits in the 13 weeks to October 17, according to Nielsen scan data from food, drug and major market liquor stores.  Table wine grew 2.8% in dollar sales and 1.6% in volume.  Meanwhile, dollar sales of spirits grew 1.1% in the 13-weeks and volume grew 1.7%. 

 WINE BIZ RUNDOWN.  White wine outperformed red wine in the period, with riesling, fume/sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and zinfandel posting the most growth.  Not surprisingly, domestics once again outpaced imports, with dollar sales of domestics up 4.2% and imports down -0.5%.  Volumes of domestics grew 2.2% and imports declined -0.4%. Once again Argentina was the fastest growing import, followed far behind by New Zealand, Spain and Chile.  Out of the big three, France declined -7.4% in dollar sales, while Australia fell 5.1% and Italy declined -3.9%.  In terms of volume, France fell -8.8%, Italy was down -4.1% and Australia declined -2.9%.
 
The $20 and below category declined -3.7% in dollar sales and -5.3% in volume in the 13-week period as a whole.  Solid growth was posted by wines priced below $6 and between $9 and $15.  Wines priced $6-$9 fell -1.2% in dollar sales and volume.  Wines $9-$12 grew 5.4% in dollar sales and 6.7% in volume.  Lastly, wines $15-$20 declined -20% in dollar sales and -0.1% in volume.

Evan Goldstein MS

President & Chief Education Officer

Full Circle Wine Solutions, Inc.

http://www.winespiritsdaily.com/2009/11/wine-slightly-outpaces-spirits-in.html