Imported Wine Players Leverage Bright Spots In Tough Market
May 21, 2025While the imported wine category has faced challenges from lower disposable incomes and tariff uncertainty in recent months, key players are exploiting bright spots in the market. Underlying consumption of imported table wine fell 3% to 68 million nine-liter cases in 2024, according to Impact Databank, but the category remains slightly above pre-pandemic levels. Seven of the top 10 imported table wines by volume declined last year, with three—Concha y Toro (+3.7%), Oyster Bay (+2.6%), and Mezzacorona (+1.5%)—posting gains. Shipments of imported bottled table wine into the U.S. increased 1.2% to 68 million cases and 1.4% to $4.4 billion last year, with Italy and France remaining the top two origins by volume, followed by New Zealand.
Among more vibrant segments, New Zealand depletions grew 0.2% to an estimated 7.7 million cases last year, according to Impact Databank. Constellation’s Kim Crawford is the clear market leader, joined by growing players like Oyster Bay, Whitehaven, Matua, and Craggy Range, among others.
“There are some great areas of strength in imports, specifically in the ultra-premium still and super-premium sparkling segments,” notes Britt West, chief commercial officer, Gallo Wine & Spirits. Regarding Gallo-owned Whitehaven, which should cross 1 million cases this year, he adds, “Whitehaven has the highest retention rate in the Sauvignon Blanc segment.”
Impact Databank estimates that underlying French wine consumption in the U.S. fell 2% to 12.4 million cases last year. Even so, some leading brands grew, with La Vieille Ferme up 6.2% to 700,000 cases and Chateau d’Esclans rising 3.2% to 610,000 cases, driven by rosé. “La Vieille Ferme is currently outpacing the growth of the rosé category,” says Patrick Bennett, president and CEO, Vineyard Brands, noting that about 50% of La Vieille Ferme sales are rosé.
At Kobrand, CEO Marcelo Aguero sees continued progress for Maison Louis Jadot, specifically its Côte d’Or Burgundies and Beaujolais crus like Château des Jacques, as well as recent non-alc entrant Pierre Chavin, which Kobrand began importing last fall. He adds, “Louis Jadot’s Burgundy portfolio continues to thrive in all channels as the top French white wine, top French red wine, top Pouilly-Fuisse, top French Pinot Noir, and top Chablis.” Louis Jadot has had U.S. volume of approximately 375,000 cases in recent years, according to Impact Databank.
“Sancerre continues to be one of the few categories where demand is still outpacing supply,” adds Winebow Imports executive vice president Ian Downey. “Stylistically, fresher white wines like Sancerre and Chablis have performed well. Producers like Fouassier and L. Moreau are two examples of properties that have excelled from these historic areas.”
Impact Databank estimates that Italian wine consumption slipped 3.3% to 21.9 million cases last year. Nine of the top 20 imported table wine labels are Italian, although only two of those brands posted gains, including Mezzacorona (+1.5%) and Ecco Domani (+2.5%). Italy’s Stella Rosa was the top imported table wine last year by retail value at $653 million.
“We are continuing to see great retail performance with luxury Italian imports,” notes Bill Terlato, CEO, Terlato Wines. “In the last 13 weeks, many Italian varietals are significantly outpacing total wine, such as Pinot Grigio, Montepulciano (+2.5%), Chianti Classico Riserva (+8.0%), Chianti Classico (+3.1), Brunello (+0.8%), and Other Italian White Blends (+13.4%). Terlato’s top import labels include Italian entries like Terlato Vineyards Pinot Grigio, Il Poggione Brunello, Seven Daughters Moscato, Feudi di San Gregorio, and Cecchi Chianti Classico, among others. Terlato has been active with portfolio additions this year, adding three new European suppliers: Castello di Bolgheri from Tuscany, Vidal Fleury from the Rhône Valley, and André Delorme Cremant de Bourgogne in Rully.
Elsewhere, Santa Margherita was the No. 3 Italian import by retail value at $257 million, and the sixth-largest imported table wine label by retail value overall. “Our Pinot Grigio continues to be a loyal consumer favorite, our Chianti Classico Riserva has been on a 10-year growth streak, and our Rosé leads the Italian premium category and has strong momentum behind it,” says Vincent Chiaramonte, president and CEO of the newly rebranded Herita USA.
In the South America category, Chile’s Concha y Toro grew 3.7% to just under 2 million cases in the U.S. in 2024. The company’s prestige label Viña Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto Puente Alto Vineyard 2021 ($175) earned Wine of the Year honors from Wine Spectator last fall. –Mary E. Keefe
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Tagged : imported wine
