“Hot Brand” Wines, Part Two: La Marca Leads The Import Segment
June 12, 2023Last week we detailed the largest domestic wine brands to earn Impact “Hot Brand” honors this year, led by big-volume players like Josh Cellars, Decoy by Duckhorn, and Bread & Butter. But a number of labels below half a million cases are also rising fast, as are import brands from key categories.
Among them, Paso Robles-based Justin topped 400,000 cases in 2022 after averaging more than 12% growth over the past three years. Justin is part of The Wonderful Company, owner of Fiji Water, POM Wonderful, and other brands. The Wonderful Company expanded its wine interests recently with the purchase of Napa’s Robert Sinskey Vineyards for just over $26 million.
The Sonoma-based Imagery label has been among The Wine Group’s successful premiumization plays of recent years, having more than doubled to 357,000 cases since 2019. Imagery was initially an on-premise-only brand that has now made significant inroads at retail as well.
Clarksburg, California-based Bogle is represented by its Juggernaut label, which includes a Sonoma Coast Chardonnay, Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, and Hillside Cabernet retailing around $20. Juggernaut is now above a quarter-million cases, complementing the core 2.4-million-case Bogle brand in the portfolio. E.&J. Gallo’s J Vineyards & Winery reached 400,000 cases last year, leveraging a range that includes sparkling and still offerings from the Russian River Valley.
Gallo also has two imported Hot Brand wines this year, sparkling wine leader La Marca and New Zealand label Whitehaven. La Marca topped 3 million cases in the U.S. in 2022, and has become the Prosecco category’s clear standard-bearer with a portfolio including the core bottling as well as a Rosé expression and the higher-priced Luminore DOCG offering. Whitehaven also continues to churn for- ward, surging past 700,000 cases on 14% growth.
Also from New Zealand, Oyster Bay is back on the Hot Brands honor roll, with volume now above 1.2 million cases. Boosted by the ongoing strength of Kiwi Sauvignon Blanc, Oyster Bay is now almost 300,000 cases bigger than it was pre-pandemic.
Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits has the largest wine Hot Brand this year in Josh Cellars, and also the smallest of the bunch in Yellow Tail Pure Bright, an Australian import which is showing promise in the light wine category, climbing past 200,000 cases last year.
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