The annual “Top 20 Wine Brands” report is always an interesting read, at least if you’re a wine nerd like me! :) Even if wine doesn’t consume your everyday existence, it’s still worth-while getting acquainted (if you aren’t already) with the movers-and-the-shakers within the top selling wine brands in the U.S.
Key Points from the Report:
(For some reason I always feel the need to read this list in the style of (now defunct) English TV show “Top of the Pops.” Click here if you have no clue what I’m talking about.)
- In at #1 is the only non-Californian brand in the top 20 list (over $20): Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, from Italy. In-case you didn’t already realize, Santa Margherita leads the pack by more than double the sales of its closet competitor: Sonoma Cutrer.
- The top three wine brands occupy the exact same positions they did in last year’s report.
- Belle Glos (from the Wagner family) is the fastest climber, with a 175% increase in and growing more than any of the other top 20 brands. Two other Wagner brands, Caymus and Conundrum, also made the top 20 list.
- New at #4 is Duckhorn Vineyards’ Decoy brand,
- Stags’ Leap Winery jumped past Charles Krug to take its spot at #5.
- Caymus (at #9) was the first “blue-chip Napa Cab” to reduce their prices during the recession, however the price has now increased by $10 per bottle during the past year.
- Rombauer is a steady climber, with 3% growth over last year.
- New to this year’s top 20 are: Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Coppola’s Director’s Cut, and Justin.
- California brands Cakebread, Newton, Trefethen, Beaulieu, and Ruffino Riserva from Italy have all dropped off the list.
