Sauvignon Blanc, RTDs, Tequila Leading Summer Trends At Retail
Drinks retailers are capitalizing on demand for warm weather staples like Sauvignon Blanc and rosé wines, as well as spirits-based RTDs and Tequilas as we get deeper into the summer season. In NielsenIQ channels, wines around the $20 price point have been the sweet spot over the first half of the year, while sparkling wines above $50 have also outperformed. On the spirits side, the RTD category has momentum in dollars “as drinkers premiumize with spirits RTDs,” NielsenIQ noted, while Tequila is leading trends in the full-strength spirits space.
“We are looking for a 3%-5% increase over last summer,” says Glen Knight, owner of The Wine House in Los Angeles. “It seems our clientele is traveling a little less this year, so we are hoping for some steady sales.”
Knight has high expectations for Sauvignon Blanc and rosé. Top-selling rosé wines at his store include Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Paso Robles ($25 a 750-ml.), Love by Léoube Côtes de Provence ($23), and Miraval Côtes de Provence ($22). Popular Sauvignon Blancs at The Wine House include Lucien Reymond Sancerre ($32), Pascal Jolivet Sancerre ($40), Craggy Range Te Muna Martinborough ($22), and Frenzy Mount Richmond Estate Marlborough ($12.79).
Sauvignon Blanc is also trending strongly for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB). “Sauvignon Blanc has been a bright spot in wine, showing an almost 5% increase year-to-date and nearly overtaking Pinot Grigio in sales dollars,” says PLCB chairman Darrell Clarke.
At PLCB stores, canned RTD cocktails showed the most unit growth at 65% while non-canned, spirit-based cocktails followed at 38%. The top five canned RTD growth brands at PLCB stores are Stateside ($20 an eight-pack of 355-ml. cans), Cutwater ($13 a four-pack of 355-ml. cans), High Noon ($22 an eight-pack of 355-ml. cans), Nutrl ($16 an eight-pack of 355-ml. cans), and Absolut ($11 a four-pack of 355-ml. cans). “Vodka unit sales are essentially flat, maybe because customers are buying vodka RTDs rather than mixing their own cocktails,” Clarke says. “Tito’s ($22 a 750-ml.) remains the undisputed leader, but fast-growing brands include New Amsterdam ($15), Deep Eddy ($20), and Absolut ($19).”
Led by big gains from Reposado, Tequila unit sales are up 7% at PLCB stores. Growth brands include Don Julio ($59 a 750-ml. of Blanco), Lunazul ($26 a 750-ml. of Blanco), and Tortilla ($8 a liter). “We’re anticipating Tequila will continue to shine, particularly as more Bourbon and whiskey drinkers experiment with and shift to sophisticated, aged Tequilas,” Clarke says.
At Sal’s Beverage World, a three-unit retailer in the Chicago suburbs, rosé wines are up 51% over last May and June, according to store owner Vince Liotta. Top-sellers include Minuty M Rosé ($20 a 750-ml.) and Whispering Angel ($17). California Sauvignon Blanc is up 15%, while New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has risen by 2%. Leading Sauvignon Blanc labels include Justin Central Coast ($15 a 750-ml.) and Yealands Marlborough ($12 a 750-ml.).
“RTDs are still up over 20% in my stores, with No. 1 seller High Noon Variety Pack ($27 a 12-pack of cans) followed by On the Rocks Cocktails ($20 a 750-ml.),” Liotta adds. “And THC cocktails are on fire.”
Meanwhile, Tequila sales are up 4.6% in the three stores, led by Jose Cuervo Gold 1.75-liter ($37) and Gran Centenario Reposado ($25 a 750-ml.). Vodka is up 2.1% over last year “with Absolut ($20 a 750-ml.) taking the No. 1 spot in my stores and Grey Goose ($30) a close second in dollar sales,” Liotta says.–Kevin Barry
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