Retailers Lean Into Sparkling Wine To Cap Off The Year

With New Year’s Eve upon us, retailers are focused on driving strong sparkling wine sales to close out the year. While results vary across markets, retail operators have generally seen top sparklers hold up well, with the leading premium brands in the U.S. mostly showing positive growth off-premise for the year.

At Summerland Wine & Spirits in Summerland Key, Florida, owner Ian Aker says sparkling wine sales are even with last year at his stores, even as still wines are down. “That’s good compared to everything else,” he says. “We haven’t seen people trading down on the sparkling wines like they have on the red and white still wines. Veuve Clicquot ($57 a 750-ml. of Yellow Label Brut) is still selling. Sales are not down on Perrier-Jouët ($57 a 750-ml. of Grand Brut). The people who were buying Dom Pérignon ($300 a 750-ml.) are still buying Dom Pérignon.”

At The Wine House in Los Angeles, more than 170 different sparkling wines are in the store during December. Top-selling Champagnes include Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Brut ($110 a 750-ml.), Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé ($90), Rare Wine Co. Grand Cru le Mesnil ($44), and Ayala Brut Majeur ($30). Non-Champagne sparkling wine sales are led by Roederer Estate Brut ($27) and Ca’ del Bosco Cuvée Prestige Edition ($40).

While sparkling wine sales are down about 7% at the store this year, momentum has built in recent weeks. “We have been getting many orders from clients sending gifts a little late this year since there were fewer days between Thanksgiving and Christmas,” owner Glen Knight explains.

In Pennsylvania, the control state’s PLCB stores have seen sparkling wine sales slip 1.8% versus last year. “While consumers will still seek out and purchase Champagne even at higher price points, domestic bubbly, Spanish Cava, and Italian Prosecco are reaping the benefits of shifting buyers,” notes PLCB press secretary Shawn Kelly. “Champagne alternatives are leaning into the popularity of sparkling rosé, which is trending up, particularly with 21+ Gen Z and millennial consumers.” Top-selling Champagnes at PLCB stores are Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label ($64 a 750-ml.) and Moët & Chandon Impérial ($55).

Pennsylvania consumers are also buying sparkling wines to create cocktails. “Value sparklers make great cocktail ingredients, mixing well with a variety of easy-to-find fruit juices like orange or cranberry, and they lead to basket-adds of floral or herbal liqueurs such as St. Germain ($37 a 750-ml.) or Chambord ($34 a 700-ml.),” Kelly explains. “The sparkling wine-based RTD category is also ripe for growth, as are smaller-sized options, which are attractive for gifts or travel.”

Tagged : Champagne, retail, sparkling wine

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