Exclusive: California, Italy, New Zealand Lead Impact’s “Hot Prospect” Wines
September 18, 2025Each year Impact’s “Hot Prospects” list highlights the fast-rising smaller brands poised to make their mark on the industry in the years ahead. This year’s list of Hot Prospect wine brands totals 28 promising labels, including 17 domestic players and 11 imported entries.
To qualify as Hot Prospects, brands must have achieved at least 15% depletions growth for 2024, while also showing consistent growth in the two preceding years. For spirits and imported wines, brand volumes must be between 50,000 and 200,000 cases, while domestic wines and RTDs are between 50,000 and 250,000 cases.
The 17 domestic wines in the Hot Prospects lineup collectively grew 67% to 1.89 million cases in the U.S. last year, according to Impact Databank. The majority of domestic awardees hail from California, including the top two entrants from Josh Cellars, but both Washington and Oregon are represented as well.
The domestic winners span a range of price points, from accessibly priced entry-level offerings up to higher-end California players such as Caymus California Cabernet, Constellation’s Harvey & Harriet, and Far Niente’s Post & Beam. Domestic wine Hot Prospects above 100,000 cases include Josh Cellars Seaswept (Deutsch Family), Josh Cellars Hearth (Deutsch Family), Art of the Cooper (Delicato), Sunscape (The Wine Group), Banshee (Foley Family), Sunshine Bliss (The Wine Group), Firefly Ridge (The Wine Group), and Liquid Light (Ste Michelle).
On the import side, 11 brands earned Hot Prospect awards, with Italy and New Zealand each placing four brands on the list, joined by two French labels and one wine sourced from multiple origins. Imported wine Hot Prospect winners above 90,000 cases include Benvolio (Jackson Family Wines), Giesen 0% (Opici), Archer Roose, Hampton Water, and Wairau River (Terlato).
The full Hot Prospects list, along with comprehensive data and analysis, is featured in Impact’s September 1&15 issue. Click here to subscribe.
Tagged : Archer Roose, Benvolio, Caymus, Constellation, Deutsch, Far Niente, Giesen 0%, Harvey & Harriet, Hot Prospects, Impact, Jackson Family Wines, Josh, Opici, Post & Beam, Terlato, Wairau
