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December 2015 WINES&VINES 39 THE BEST OF 2O15 Best Growth by Package Type PREMIUM BOX WINES Bag-in-box wines at the premium price range of $3.50 to $4.99 per 750ml equivalent were the hottest package type in terms of sales growth, according to IRI. These grew by 24% in both value and volume. The majority of premium boxes were 3 liters in size. In con- trast, 5-liter boxes grew only 1% in value and dropped by 4% in sales volume. Fastest Growing Import Category NEW ZEALAND A 27% increase in U.S. off- premise sales made New Zealand the hands-down winner among import coun- tries. It has only 2% of market share, according to IRI, but a fast-growing following among con- sumers, along with a high average bottle price of $11.53. Sauvi- gnon Blanc is driving these sales, and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is responsible for much of the rapid growth in the varietal category as a whole. Fastest Growing Varietal SAUVIGNON BLANC Domestic Sauvignon Blanc and Fumé Blanc wines had the fastest rate of growth in direct-to- consumer (DtC) shipments among the 10 top varietals and types. Sales increased 19% in 2015, according to the Wines & Vines/ ShipCompliant Model, and totaled $47.2 million. Caber- net Sauvignon remained the top- selling varietal or type and grew by 17%, which was impressive con- sidering its much larger base. Fastest Growing DtC Market MASSACHUSETTS Consumers in the Bay State lost no time taking advantage of legislation that allowed open access to direct- to-consumer shipments of wine beginning Jan. 1, 2015. Through September, they received 40,268 cases of wine worth more than Source: . Wines Vines Analytics. Sales in multiple outlet and convenience stores, 52 weeks ending Oct. 4, 2015. OFF-PREMISE BEST SELLERS Chardonnay Cabernet Sauvignon Sparkling Wine Pinot Grigio 0 $50 $100 $150 $200 $ Millions $18.91 million from U.S. wineries, according to the Wines & Vines/ ShipCompliant Model. That more than doubled the previous year's total, for a growth rate of 129% from a small base of $8.27 million. Only bonded wineries are able to apply for a direct-shipping permit, which costs $300 and $150 to renew. Consumers are limited to a dozen 9-liter cases per year. Most New Wineries CALIFORNIA NORTH COAST/ OREGON The majority of new wineries con- tinue to open in California, but the Pacific Northwest is starting to take a larger share of that growth. The region with the most new win- eries (139) was California's North Coast, which includes Napa, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties. Napa County recorded 78 new wineries, and Sonoma County had 56 open this year. After California, the most new wineries opened in Oregon, which opened 93, according to Wines Vines Ana- lytics. Of the new Oregon wineries, 78 are located in the Willamette Valley. Oregon's neighbor to the North, Washington state, had 61 new wineries; the Pacific North- west combined accounted for 22% of all new wineries. The rate of growth in the Midwest and eastern United States is still much smaller, but those two regions combined accounted for 38% of all new win- eries. Outside of the Western United States, New York had the most new wineries at 39, and 11 of those were in the Finger Lakes region. DTC SHIPMENTS AVERAGE BOTTLE PRICE Cabernet Sauvignon $66.70 Pinot Noir $45.12 Red Blends $42.91 All Varietal/Types $37.91 Source: Wines Vines Analytics/ShipCompliant MASSACHUSETTS 129%