Impact Databank: Sparkling Wines Accelerate In Run-up To The Holidays
December 15, 2021After 27 consecutive annual gains, the total wine industry is expected to suffer its first annual decline this year since 1993, slipping by an estimated 0.5%—according to The U.S. Wine Market: Shanken’s Impact Databank Review & Forecast, 2021 Edition. Industry dollars are projected to fall also, as the on-premise sector continues to struggle to return to pre-pandemic levels. Looking ahead, Impact Databank expects further erosion of total U.S. wine consumption, at least through 2025, with the marked exception of two sectors: fledgling wine-based cocktails, and the resilient sparkling wine segment.
This year will mark the 13th consecutive annual gain for sparkling wines, which suffered a temporary setback during the global financial crisis of 2008. After averaging solid 5.5% annualized gains between 2010 and 2015, sparkling wine growth had slowed to 2.5% average increases between 2015 and 2020, according to Impact Databank’s 251-page report. But the current pandemic notwithstanding, sparkling wines still appear to have considerable upside as the segment evolves from occasion-driven consumption into much broader usage.
“We do see an opportunity in sparkling wine, especially as supply issues affect the European market,” RNDC chief executive Tom Cole recently told SND. “With fewer imported suppliers, we’re looking to build our American-made sparkling wine brands.”
The sparkling wine segment rose 6.8% in dollar terms and 2.9% by volume in IRI channels in the year-to-date ending November 28—including the Thanksgiving holiday—compared to declines of 7% and 11.3%, respectively, for table (still) wines. Sparkling wine brands are expected to continue gaining favor with American drinkers during the holiday season and remain one of the bright spots driving industry growth. The sparkling wine sector is projected to post modest but consistent gains until at least 2025, while table (still) wines are expected to lose five million cases of volume over the next five years, according to Impact Databank.
Imports fueled the sparkling category’s growth for the better part of the last decade, driven by solid advances from Prosecco and Champagne. Last year, imported sparkling wine depletions rose 4% to more than triple their volumes of 20 years prior. La Marca Prosecco is the market’s largest-selling sparkling brand, nearly triple the volume of the next biggest import, according to Impact Databank. Meanwhile, among all wines priced above $25 a 750-ml. bottle, Champagne’s Veuve Clicquot and Moët & Chandon lead all brands in terms of retail dollars.
For more information regarding The U.S. Wine Market: Impact Databank Review & Forecast, 2021 Edition, as well as other exclusive Shanken reports and publications, click here.—Juan Banaag
| U.S.—Top 10 Premium-Plus Sparkling Wine Brands | |||||
| Rank | Brand | Company | Origin | Total 2020 Case Volume1 |
2021 YTD Percent Change in IRI Channels2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Marca | E.&J. Gallo Winery | Italy | 2,400 | 18.1% |
| 2 | Korbel | Brown-Forman | California | 1,491 | 6.0% |
| 3 | Mionetto | Freixenet Mionetto USA | Italy | 840 | 18.6% |
| 4 | Veuve Clicquot | Moët Hennessy USA | France | 548 | 11.3% |
| 5 | Domaine Chandon | Moët Hennessy USA | California | 493 | 6.0% |
| 6 | Risata | Prestige Beverage Group | Italy | 472 | 4.4% |
| 7 | Moët & Chandon | Moët Hennessy USA | France | 462 | 3.7% |
| 8 | Ruffino | Constellation Brands | Italy | 446 | -5.5% |
| 9 | Luc Belaire | Sovereign Brands | France | 429 | 121.3% |
| 10 | Mumm Napa | Pernod Ricard USA | California | 402 | 16.5% |
| Total Top Ten | 7,984 | 10.7% | |||
| 1 Thousands of 9-liter cases. 2 Year-to-date through November 28, 2021. 3 Addition of columns may not agree due to rounding. Sources: IRI & IMPACT DATABANK © 2021 |
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Tagged : La Marca, Moet & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot
