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D A T A CENTER Domestic Wine Sales Steadily Up Varietal wines grew 9% in September Sept. 4 hit $351 million and grew 7% over the same period last year. The year-to-date growth rate was also 7%. Volume sales of domestic table wine grew a bit more slowly, at 5%, as prices edged up 8 cents per 750ml. D The news was even brighter in the narrower category of domes- tic varietal table wine packaged in 750ml bottles. This segment grew by nearly 9% in the recent four weeks. In contrast, varietals in 1.5L packages grew at 5%; non-varietals in 1.5L format actu- ally dropped by 1% compared to the same period a year earlier. Imported table wines were essentially flat in off-premise dollar sales for the year to date, showing just 1% growth. Tremendous increases of 32% by Argentina and 19% by New Zealand barely balanced hefty losses by two countries that export more to the U.S. France was down by 7% and Australia by 8%. Oregon up 14% Symphony IRI, the Chicago-based market research firm, measured Oregon table wine as being up 14% year to date with $38 million in sales. This put Oregon in the same neighborhood as Spain and Germany in total sales, but each only holds about 1% market share in dollars. Sales of Washington wines so far this year grew 5% in dollars. Washington holds 5% of market share. Speaking of Oregon and other Pinot Noir-producing regions, sales of Pinot Noir were among the fastest growing of the vari- etal types. Pinot Noir from all sources grew 12% year to date. However, the real champions of growth were red blends and Meritage wines, which increased sales by 28% year to date. Chardonnay is king Despite the long-running Anything But Chardonnay argument by some wine critics and trade members, Chardonnay is still the top- selling varietal, SIRI's data show. Sales of Chardonnay—domestic and import combined—topped $1.3 billion in the most recent 52 weeks. No. 2 Cabernet Sauvignon sold a mere $897 million. A look at sales of Chardonnay, Cabernet and Merlot by price- point shows that Chardonnay dominates those two reds and ev- Precision in-the-row tillers and mowers YEAR-END SALE! Weed Badger® Get great savings on our remaining inventory! Call factory-direct now for details. 800-437-3392 • www.weedbadger.com omestic wine sales at major U.S. food and drug retailers remained steadily up for the most recent period measured by the Symphony IRI Group. Four-week dollar sales ending $50 $100 $150 $200 $250 $300 $350 $400 $0 <$3.49 $3.50- $4.99 $7.99 $5- $10.99 $14.99 $19.99 $8- $11- 52-week sales of total table wine through 11/4/11, at major U.S. food and drug stores. ery other varietal category in five out of seven segments. Only in the mid-range $8-$10.99 group and the highest priced segment of $20-plus did Cabernet outsell Chardonnay in dollars. $20-plus wines up 25% Domestic table wines of all types priced at $20-plus continued to grow at a very fast rate, increasing 25% in sales year to date. The growth in volume was even faster at 28%. Of course this meant that price per volume decreased. The average price per 9L case dropped $6.45 since the year began, and the price per 750ml dipped 54 cents. Box wines from domestic producers grew even faster and didn't have to give up as much in dollars by volume. Bag-in-box wine in the high range of $3.50-$4.99 per 750ml equivalent rose 26% in dollar sales while dropping just 3 cents per 750ml. Bag-in-box format wine priced at less than $3.50 was the only category of domestic wines that did not grow in dollar sales year to date. —Jim Gordon RUN THE B&B WHILE THE GRAPES GROW! Great winery potential for historic 5BR, 5Bath B&B, 77 organic acre farm with beautiful lake view on Cayuga Wine Trail, in heart of Amish & horse country. $750,000 Visit: www.cayugasunrise.com 97 Fall Street, PO Box 386 Seneca Falls, NY 13148 Mel Russo Licensed Real Estate Broker/Owner Office: 315-568-9404 Cell: 315-246-3997 website: www.senecayuga.com e-mail: senecayuga@aol.com Wines & Vines nOVeMBeR 2011 11 $15- Top Three Varietals by Price Segment Chardonnay Merlot Cabernet $20-plus Millions