Wine Varieties

Butterfly Creek Winery located in Mariposa, California

July 26, 2021 – SAN FRANCISCO – California wineries experienced an increase in sales by volume in 2020, with 240.3 million cases shipped within the United States, up 1% from the previous year, totaling an estimated retail value of $40 billion. California wine sales to all markets, including shipments to the U.S. and export markets, were 279.2 million cases in 2020, up 2% by volume from 2019, according to wine industry expert Jon Moramarco of bw166 and Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates.

“Shipments of California wine were up slightly in 2020, demonstrating the continued interest in the diverse and high-quality wine the Golden State has to offer consumers domestically and abroad,” said Robert P. Koch, president and CEO, Wine Institute. “As the global pandemic recedes, we are optimistic that increased travel to wineries and in-person dining at restaurants will yield growth in both value and volume.” 

“California wine continues to do well among consumers, despite the drastic halt of on-premise sales and the significant shift of purchasing behaviors to online, grocery and wine stores, as a result of COVID-19 shutdowns,” said Jon Moramarco, bw166 and Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates. 

“With closures and restrictions in bars and restaurants across most of the U.S. in 2020, alcohol volume experienced a tremendous movement to traditional retail stores including grocery and liquor stores,” said Danelle Kosmal, vice president, Nielsen’s Beverage Alcohol Practice Area. “As consumers shifted nearly all their drinking occasions to at-home consumption, alcohol’s growth in off-premise channels included wine value increasing by 18% and volume increasing by 12.5%. Sparkling wine also outperformed table wine by a 9% margin, growing 25% and 16% respectively.”  

According to NielsenIQ data, wine varieties that performed well in 2020 include Sauvignon Blanc (+26.3% dollar growth in NielsenIQ off-premise channels), rosé (+23.9%), Pinot Noir (+18.5%), red blends (+18.5%), Cabernet Sauvignon (+17%).

The U.S. Wine Market
The U.S. remains the world’s largest wine market and is the fourth-leading wine producer worldwide. Wine shipments to the U.S. from California, other states and foreign producers reached 435.1 million cases in 2020, with an estimated retail value of $66.8 billion.

California’s 240.3 million cases shipped within the U.S. in 2020 represents 55% of the total U.S. wine market.

Total shipments of sparkling wine and champagne to the U.S. from all production sources reached 28.5 million cases in 2020 and sparkling wines/champagnes accounted for a 6% share of the U.S. wine market.

California Wine Shipments1
(In millions of 9-liter cases)

Year	California Wine Shipments to All Markets in the U.S. and Abroad2	California Wine Shipments to the U.S. Market2	Estimated Retail Value of CA Wine to U.S.3
2020	279.2	240.3	$40 billion
2019	272.9	239.1	$43.6 billion
2018	286.5	248.8	$41.2 billion
2017	283.9	245.1	$40.5 billion
2016	281.9	241.2	$37.8 billion
2015	279.1	234.6	$36.5 billion
2014	277.4	232.8	$34.7 billion
2013	265.8	221.1	$31.7 billion
2012	256.7	214.2	$31.8 billion
2011	270.1	224.1	$31.3 billion
2010	254.7	210.1	$30.8 billion
2009	255.7	213.4	$31.5 billion

Sources: BW166/Gomberg-Fredrikson & Associates. 2018 volumes include final data. Minor historical volume adjustments due to bulk calculation methodology. Dollars revised for some Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) on-premise changes and refinement of Control States revenue.
1 Includes table, sparkling, dessert, vermouth, other special natural, sake and others. Excludes cider.
2 Excludes bulk imports bottled in California.
3 Estimated retail value includes markups by wholesalers, retailers and restaurateurs.

Wine Sales in the US
(Wine shipments in millions of 9-liter cases from California, other states and foreign producers entering U.S. distribution)

Year	Table Wine1	Dessert Wine2	Sparkling Wine/ Champagne	Flavored Wine Products	Total Wine	Total Retail Value3
2020	334.3	40.5	28.5	31.8	435.1	$66.8 billion
2019	319.6	39.7	29.3	18.2	406.8	$74.5 billion
2018	321.5	40.1	27.7	15.4	404.6	$71.4 billion
2017	321.9	40.5	26.4	14.9	403.7	$69.5 billion
2016	315.9	41.2	24.4	16.2	397.8	$65.2 billion
2015	309.6	40.2	21.7	15.1	386.6	$62.5 billion
2014	308.3	34.6	19.8	15.1	377.8	$59.7 billion
2013	310.1	31.6	18.4	16.1	376.2	$56.7 billion
2012	301.3	30.3	17.5	17.8	366.9	$55.6 billion
2011	292.0	31.4	17.2	15.6	356.2	$52.6 billion
2010	275.3	28.9	15.3	16.1	335.6	$49.8 billion
2009	269.1	27.2	13.9	13.6	323.8	$47.8 billion

Sources: Wine Institute, Department of Commerce, Estimates by BW166/Gomberg, Fredrikson & Associates. Preliminary. History revised. Excludes exports. Excludes Cider. Totals may not add up exactly due to rounding.
1 Includes all still wines not over 14 percent alcohol, including bulk imports bottled in the U.S.
2 Includes all still wines over 14 percent alcohol and sake, including bulk imports bottled in the U.S.
3 Estimated retail value includes markups by wholesalers, retailers and restaurateurs. Includes on- and off-premise expenditures.

About Wine Institute 
Established in 1934, Wine Institute is the public policy advocacy group of 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses that initiates and advocates state, federal and international public policy to enhance the environment for the responsible production, consumption and enjoyment of wine. The organization works to enhance the economic and environmental health of the state through its leadership in sustainable winegrowing and a partnership with Visit California to showcase California’s wine and food offerings and the state as a top travel destination.
Source: Wine Institute

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Most folks visiting Osoyoos BC would probably be unaware of a large corporate entity that operates 13 businesses in the south Okanagan area. I suspect it may well be the most significant corporate business in the area, generating income close to $100 million per year. That may not sound like much in Alberta, where big corporations operate in the billions. That corporate entity is the Osoyoos Indian Band Development Corporation (OIBDC); it was created by the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB) to manage its various interests. The OIB still uses their old school name rather than the more politically correct First Nation handle that most indigenous reserves now use. Many First Nations are now changing their anglicized names to their original indigenous language names. As admirable as that may be, some of the new/old names are unpronounceable by the unfamiliar.
The OIB success story began with their extensive vineyards originating with plantings in 1968 in the Oliver BC area. Credit is due to the OIB council of the day that had the genius and risk foresight to invest in a seemingly unfamiliar business. Vineyards have existed in the Okanagan for over a hundred years, but few were of the high-quality vinifera type of grape that OIB planted. Instead, back then, the most infamous BC wine in Alberta were gallon jugs of Calona Royal Red, the favourite cheap wine of derelicts and partying teenagers. I understand it was improved over the years, but its seedy reputation persevered; it may well have disappeared by now. Another feature of the original OIB vineyard was that it was to be a large commercial operation by Canadian standards and would produce wine under its own label, the iconic “Inkameep” it’s now called NK’MIP, which is closer to the original Okanagan indigenous language. The vineyard operation has expanded from its commercial base in Oliver and now includes a vineyard on the east bank of the Town of Osoyoos. This vineyard specializes in premium grape wine varieties that are marketed through a variety of retail initiatives and labels.
As with so much in agriculture and food production and processing, the wine business has seen consolidation and marketing alliances. I expect OIBDC management and Nk’Mip winery managers recognized the benefit of such national marketing opportunities, and they are partners with other national wine growers and marketers. That’s seen their wines marketed in more markets beyond their traditional BC and Alberta retail base. Another clever marketing angle is seeing Nk’Mip wines sold at native-owned casinos across North America. Like most large vineyard operations, Nk’Mip utilizes high-tech technology like mechanical harvesting at its main operation, although hand picking is still used at the Osoyoos premium wine operation. Like so much in agriculture, viticulture is a combination of art, science and luck. Pesticides and herbicides are used sparingly to address actual problems; contrary to green group propaganda, commercial growers of any crop are loathe to use such costly products. In the dry Okanagan, vineyards are irrigated, and fertilizers are used to address specific plant needs. Interestingly pruning plays a big part in viticulture as only certain low-hanging grape clusters are desirable for winemaking purposes; the biggest yield is not always the goal. Pruning concentrates flavour, sugar content etc., in fewer grapes, but that’s a whole other story. To achieve the high quality of its wines, OIBDC and its partners have hired the best winery managers and viticulturists. OIBDC has shown it’s prepared to engage expertise from anywhere if such folks can’t be found from within their own band. That brings up a vital element of the OIB success.
Longtime OIB Chief Clarence Louie has stated that OIBDC businesses are designed to benefit his people through employment and band revenue. To say the least, he has succeeded outstandingly, and OIB employs many more people than there are actual band members. He has shown canny business sense creating a corporate business structure that is transparent and accountable. Chief Louie and the OIB have become legendary as a very successful self-sustaining First Nation. It’s not the only success story, Alberta has some of the largest Indigenous business operations in Canada, like the billion-dollar Fort McKay First Nation business operation. The difference is Chief Louie had to figure out how to create a successful business operation without easy access to lucrative oil and gas resources. OIB had only 32,000 dry acres to work with – and Nk’Mip vineyards was the start of the OIB success story.

Will Verboven is an ag opinion writer and ag policy advisor.

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In 1981, Adam Tolmach planted a five-acre vineyard on land he had inherited from his grandfather in the wine-growing region of Ventura County, California, a few miles east of Santa Barbara. As an undergraduate, Tolmach had studied grape growing and winemaking (areas of study known as viticulture and enology, respectively) and then worked for a couple of years at a winery not far from his grandfather’s land. In 1983, he started producing his own wines, which he sells under the Ojai Vineyard label.

Over the years, Tolmach’s grapevines began to suffer. The plants lost vigor and the leaves dried. It turned out the vineyard was affected by Pierce’s disease, a sickness that had long plagued southern California, but had become more severe in the 1990s after the invasion of the glassy-winged sharpshooter, a large leafhopper insect that feeds on plant fluids and can spread a bacterium known as Xylella fastidiosa, usually just called Xylella (pronounced zy-LEL’-uh). This bacterium has existed in the United States since as far back as the 1880s, and over the years, it has destroyed at least 35,000 acres of the nation’s vineyards.

Tolmach witnessed the slow but certain death of his grapevines. By 1995, there were just too many missing plants, he said. So he decided to pull out the infected vineyard. To continue making wine, he bought grapes from other producers. Tolmach became a winemaker with no vineyard of his own.

Every year, American winemakers lose about $56 million worth of vines, while government agencies, nurseries, and the University of California system invest another $48 million in prevention efforts, according to research published in the journal California Agriculture. At least 340 plant species serve as hosts to Xylella, though the bacteria only harm some of them. Across the globe, Xylella has devastated orange trees in Brazil and olive fields in southern Italy, and recently a newly identified species, Xylella taiwanensis, has been infecting pear trees in Taiwan. As of now, there is no permanent solution. Each time a Xylella species has invaded a new region, it has proved impossible to eradicate.

Countries have long fretted about the potential for infected plant imports to spread the bacteria, and more recently, climate change has been identified as an additional threat, pushing the disease vectors’ habitat north, both in Europe and in the U.S. As winters become warmer, experts say, Xylella could enter new territories, upending their regional economies and landscapes.

Yet there might be some hope. After 40 years of crossbreeding European grape varieties with wild grapes, a plant geneticist recently patented five hybrid grapes that appear to be resistant to Pierce’s disease. While scientists caution that it’s not yet clear how long the resistance will endure, wine producers like Tolmach hope that these new grapes will allow their vineyards to flourish once again.

* * *

A variety of grape species are indigenous to America, and a recent study suggests that Native Americans might have used them to make alcoholic beverages more than 500 years ago. In North America, native varieties tend to have thick skin and an astringent, peppery, acidic taste that is quite different from the grapes used in most wines.

In the 1500s, Spanish settlers brought Vitis vinifera, the common European grapevine for winemaking, to Florida. Farmers never succeeded in cultivating European grapes in the new territory — after a few years, the plants would just die. Then, in the 1860s, the Los Angeles Vineyard Society led grape-planting efforts in the Santa Ana Valley. By 1883, there were a total of 50 wineries and 10,000 acres of grapevines. Then, just a couple of years later, the grapevines had all died inexplicably.

In 1889, the U.S. Department of Agriculture instructed one of the first formally trained American plant pathologists, Newton Pierce, to figure out what was killing the European grapevines. Pierce studied the disease, eventually speculating that it was caused by a microorganism, but he never identified one. Still, in recognition of his effort, the disease was eventually named after him.

In the 1970s, a University of California, Berkeley entomologist named Alexander Purcell helped solve the mystery. At the time, researchers were beginning to think Pierce’s disease was caused by bacteria but had yet to pin down a culprit. Purcell and his colleagues proved the then-unnamed Xylella was responsible by growing the bacterium from samples taken from plants infected by blue-green sharpshooters, and then directly infecting healthy plants with the lab-grown pathogen. Over time, a more complete picture of disease transmission emerged.

The glassy-winged sharpshooter feeds on the green stems and leaves of grapevine plants, which contain water and dissolved nutrients, Purcell told Undark. If the plant is infected with Xylella, some of the bacteria linger in the insect’s needle-like mouthparts. The next time the glassy-winged sharpshooter feeds upon a grapevine, the insect can transfer the Xylella to the new plant. Inside the plant’s vascular tissues, the bacteria multiply, obstructing the normal flow of water and nutrients and interfering with the plant’s metabolism and physiology — a process that ultimately kills the plant.

In the late 1980s, Purcell mapped swaths of the U.S. and Europe by how conducive they are to disease spread. Knowing that Xylella do not thrive in regions with cold winters, that are far from large bodies of water, and that lack a disease-carrying vector such as the glassy-winged sharpshooter, Purcell drew out maps by hand. He then marked the regions with the right combination of geographic and climatic conditions to allow for Pierce’s disease to spread, noticing a pattern emerge.

At the time, the European Union was not very concerned about Xylella, though Purcell contends that the bacteria had almost certainly arrived in the region. In talks and at conferences, he warned that European countries were facing a great danger. He urged the E.U. to increase its regulations of plant imports. Those warnings went unheeded, Purcell said, and in 2017, Pierce’s disease was first detected on the grapevines of the Spanish island of Mallorca, jeopardizing the future of winemaking there. Today, Xylella is spreading through the Mediterranean region and other parts of Europe — just as Purcell predicted.

Alberto Fereres, a Spanish entomologist and researcher at the Spanish National Research Council, is concerned about the devastating effects of the European outbreaks, including one in southern Italy that has infected and killed 20 million olive trees, more than a third of the region’s population. “[Xylella] is present in many more countries than we indeed thought,” Fereres said, adding that his research group recently discovered that the bacteria have been present in Spain for more than 20 years, but for much of that time it only lived in plants that don’t show symptoms of the disease.

Fereres hopes at least some plants will adapt to the presence of the bacteria and that farmers will be able to control the indigenous European vector, the meadow spittlebug, by tilling the land to kill the bug’s juveniles and placing barriers or nets to separate the insects from susceptible plants.

So far, the U.S. has largely used insecticides to get rid of infected insects. The Temecula Valley in California, for example, experienced a severe outbreak of Pierce’s disease in the late 1990s. Back then, stakeholders managed to defeat the disease in less than two years by introducing specific pesticides into the farming of grapevines.

Matt Daugherty, an entomologist at the University of California, Riverside, studied the resulting decline in Temecula’s glassy-winged sharpshooter population. He said the insect’s numbers remained low until around 2017, when the population exploded for a second time.

“Now the bad news is this,” Purcell said: “After about 18 years, the insect is now resistant to the insecticide.” In entomology, Purcell added, such resistance is common if the same insecticide is used year after year. He and Fereres maintain that pesticides are not a viable long-term solution to the problem. In some countries, this approach has also run up against public opinion. In Italy, for example, consumers have strongly opposed the use of pesticides on olive trees threatened by Xylella.

Rodrigo Almeida, a plant pathologist at the University of California, Berkeley, warns that climate change might worsen the situation: While low winter temperatures in many grape-growing regions have traditionally limited the spread of Pierce’s disease, the past few years have brought warmer winters, allowing Xylella to spread.

“With warming temperatures and warmer winters, you’re going to have sort of more disease where you already have it, and you’re probably going to see the range expand north as well,” Almeida said. Warmer temperatures favor greater survival of the insects and increase the likelihood that an infection will persist through the winter. Almeida added that it’s difficult to predict precisely how much the disease will increase and how it will impact the new territories, but that there is the possibility that the disease will find a home in areas where a dry climate combines with warmer winters.

“We’re expecting things to get worse and worse,” Daugherty said.

Yet, in territories where European grapes die because of Xylella, wild indigenous grape varieties that are not a good fit for winemaking thrive. Those plants bear a unique gene that prevents them from succumbing to the disease, and that specific gene could be a counteroffensive to the bacteria and might well change the future of winemaking.

* * *

In 1989, University of California, Davis plant geneticist and viticulturist Andrew Walker inherited grapevine seeds that he was told were produced from crossbreeding two known Vitis species. But as the plants grew, he soon noticed they were behaving weirdly. For one thing, their vines had sprouted fine hairs along the stems. More importantly, the plants proved resistant to Pierce’s disease. Walker decided to investigate. Perhaps, he speculated, the parent plants, which were still flourishing in an abandoned vineyard owned by his university, had accidentally crossbred with the native grapevines that were growing wild nearby.

Indeed, this turned out to be the case. Vitis arizonica grows wild in the southwest U.S. and Mexico, and Walker matched the genetic fingerprint of the male V. arizonica in his own plants. The wild plant carries a dominant gene that passes along Pierce’s disease resistant traits to its offspring.

Sensing that this could lead to breakthrough for new varieties of grapevine, Walker began the slow process of crossbreeding. This technique goes back about 10,000 years and involves selectively breeding plants and animals with desired traits. In this case, Walker wanted to cross disease-resistant V. arizonica with winemaking varieties like cabernet sauvignon.

The first generation’s seedlings all carried the gene for disease resistance. Walker selected the highest quality among them, and when the plants flowered, he crossed them again with various V. vinifera varieties. He did this for four to five generations, reaching a point where 97 percent of the plant’s genome came from V. vinifera and 3 percent came from V. arizonica. It took Walker about 20 years to develop these new plants, five varieties of which have been patented and given out to a few producers, and sold through a handful of nurseries. Tolmach, the winemaker from Ojai, was one of the few lucky ones to receive them.

“I guess what’s shocking to me is that the quality is there — these can be standalone wines by themselves,” said Tolmach. In 2017, he planted about 1,800 plants on 1.2 acres with four of Walker’s varieties, and he recently bottled the 2019 vintages. (These vintages won’t be available until this fall, when they will be priced between $30 and $40 per bottle, which is comparable to his vintages that use traditional grapes.) Tolmach said that his new plants are healthy and thriving with no sign of the disease, and he’s now thinking of planting more on a 10-acre vineyard that he purchased in northern Santa Barbara County.

Matt Kettmann, a California writer and wine critic who has been following Tolmach’s work for years, tasted Tolmach’s wines produced with resistant grape varieties. He said they are unique and interesting wines with characteristics reminiscent of wines of European heritage. He described Tolmach’s 2019 wine using Walker’s paseante noir grape as tasting of “black cherry, mocha, clove, baking spice,” while praising its “smooth texture and rich mouthfeel.” “That one,” said Kettmann, “was really kind of impressive to me.”

Kettmann anticipates that the new wines will be appreciated by connoisseurs, but he wonders how the larger American market will respond. Europeans emphasize the value of terroir — the taste imparted to a wine by a particular region’s soil, topography, and climate. Americans, on the other hand, tend to care more about the variety of the grape, like pinot gris, cabernet sauvignon, or zinfandel — and Walker’s varieties are entirely new.

“Tradition is a huge consideration in choosing wine varieties for winemaking. Can you name any new grape varieties introduced during the last 50 years that are now widely used for wine?” wrote Purcell in an email.

It’s also not clear whether new genotypes of Xylella might evolve to infect the hybrid grapes, Purcell and Fereres wrote to Undark. Currently, only a single gene confers the resistance. For this reason, it might be necessary to incorporate new resistance genes by crossbreeding additional varieties of grapevine, said Purcell.

Still, growers like Tolmach are excited by Walker’s resistant varieties, and some are planting them in areas that have been impacted by Xylella, Walker said. Though Tolmach has made wines with the new grapes exclusively, he suggests many wineries may opt to blend the grapes with other mainstream varieties.

For his part, Walker believes that any skepticism about his grapes’ novelty will fade in the face of climate change. “It is going to force people to reevaluate how we improve grapevines,” he said.

* * *

Agostino Petroni is a journalist, author, and a 2021 Pulitzer Reporting Fellow. His work appears in a number of outlets, including National Geographic, BBC, and Atlas Obscura.

This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center.

This article was originally published on Undark. Read the original article.

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Maryville Academy will host its second Wine Tasting and Garden Tour on Saturday, Aug. 7.

The event will benefit Jen School students and their school programs.

A donation of $35 will include a sampling of several wine varieties with appetizers, touring the Jen School garden and winning raffle prizes.

The outdoor tent event offers two time slots: 3 to 4 p.m. or 5 to 6 p.m. on the Des Plaines campus at 1150 N. River Road.

Click on the link below to register for a specific time and available event sponsorships.

For 3 to 4 p.m., go to bit.ly/3rgwjx4.

For 5 to 6 p.m., go to bit.ly/2UIH9Q5.

“We are very excited to host this event again this year,” Director of Development Megan Biasco said. “The inaugural launch last year was successful in spite of the challenges we all faced.”

Biasco said that people really enjoyed themselves last year. “We hope to see our friends and supporters at the event again this year. Hopefully, more people will come now that health restrictions have been lifted.”

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        

 

Jen School is an eight-time National Association of Special Education Teachers School of Excellence award recipient. It is the only school in the country that offers vocational education for young children with special learning needs. It works with young people ages 10 to 21 who face academic, emotional, behavioral or intellectual challenges. For information on Jen School, visit www.maryvilleacademy.org.

Contact Tina Hock at restivo-hockt@maryvilleacademy.org or call (847) 294-1982 for more information.

Learn more at www.maryvilleacademy.org.

        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        

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Walmart has added premium wine varieties to its three-year-old Winemakers Selection private brand.

Called the Reserve Series collection, the five new wines come from some of the world’s top growing regions and carry a suggested retail price of $10 a bottle, Jason Fremstad, vice president of adult beverage at Walmart, said in a blog post Monday. Varietals under the Reserve Series label include Argentinian Malbec, Italian Pinot Grigio, French Rosé, Californian Cabernet Sauvignon and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. 

Related: Albertsons adds sustainable wines to its Own Brands offering

“The Reserve Series features incredible tasting wines that radiate the characteristics that made their regions famous,” Fremstad wrote in the blog. “Customers can explore Italy’s delle Venezie region with a light and refreshing Pinot Grigio or visit the Andes Mountains in Mendoza, Argentina with a velvety and full-bodied Malbec — so you can take an adventure around the world, without needing your passport.”

Related: Are reopenings on tap for in-store beer and wine service?

From Argentina, Italy, France, New Zealand and Californian Cabernet Sauvignon and New Zealand, the Reserve Series wines let customers to ‘take an adventure around the world,’ Walmart’s Jason Fremstad said.

 

Bentonville, Ark.-based Walmart has repositioned and expanded the Winemakers Selection line since introducing it in June 2018. At its debut, the brand included 10 wines sourced from California, France and Italy that sold for about $11 a bottle and initially rolled out to 1,100 stores. Then last August, the retailer launched the Winemakers Selection Classic Series, a line California-sourced wines — including chardonnay, pinot grigio, rosé, cabernet sauvignon and a red blend — for about $5 a bottle at 2,600 stores.

“Since introducing the Winemakers Selection label to Walmart customers in 2018, we’ve continued to identify new ways to bring our customers new and exciting offerings as they explore the collection. Last year, Walmart exclusively relaunched the Winemakers Selection Classic Series, which featured a streamlined brand identity and varietals that we know our customers love, all sold at an incredible value. More than a year since its relaunch, the Classic Series wines have quickly become a customer favorite,” Fremstad explained.

“Over the past year, we’ve noticed our customers have been more interested in exploring premium wines but wanting to try them at an accessible price point without sacrificing quality,” he said. “That’s why today I’m thrilled to share that Walmart is exclusively launching the latest addition to the Winemakers Selection label: Winemakers Selection Reserve Series.”

Walmart said the Winemakers Selection Reserve Series is available at Walmart stores nationwide as well as online via Walmart Grocery Pickup and Delivery, depending on local and state regulations. 

In 2020, private-label alcohol sales — including beer, wine and spirits — were flat in dollars ($43.9 billion) and unit volume (4 billion) across all retail outlets (food, drug, mass, club and dollar stores), according to Private Label Manufacturers Association and NielsenIQ data. Mass/club/dollar chains saw the largest gain, with dollar sales up 0.1% to $10.2 billion and units up 0.2% to 914.6 million. Supermarkets had flat sales in private-brand alcohol, with dollar volume of $31 billion and unit sales of 2.8 billion.

Overall wine dollar sales, however, have been similar between those two channels during the past year. For the 52 weeks through May 16, wine sales rose by 6.2% year over year to $13.7 billion for the multi-outlet retail channel and by 6.9% to $10.6 billion for supermarkets, according to IRI.

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WindRacer viticulturist Shaun Kajiwara, proprietors Peggy Furth and Barbara Banke, and winemaker … [+] Nikki Weerts.

WindRacer

Well known in the both the wine world and the world of horses, businesswomen Barbara Banke and Peggy Furth hardly seem like the type of people who need to add another line to their already impressive resumes. However, after partnering on two previous ventures, WholeVine and Vine To Bar Chocolate, the two joined forces to create WindRacer Wines, a small-batch, luxury Chardonnay and Pinot Noir brand using grapes from “extreme” viticulture sites in California. 

Their first joint enterprise, WholeVine, focuses on the “full cycle of sustainability,” utilizing cast off products from the winemaking process such as grape skins and seeds in a variety of food items. This led to their Vine to Bar chocolate company, which incorporates this “Chardonnay Marc” into a line of gourmet chocolate bars that are rich in nutrients, flavanols, and natural sweetness. 

 Barbara Banke, chairperson and proprietor of Jackson Family Wines, is a former land use and constitutional law attorney. Her late husband, Jess Jackson, founded JFW. One of the most notable aspects of this global wine powerhouse is its commitment to sustainability and stewardship of the natural resources, which grew out of Barbara and Jess’s shared passion for the environment. Peggy Furth began her career in business at Kellog Company, where she was the first female department head in its home office. She then transitioned into the wine world alongside her husband Fred when the two founded Chalk Hill Vineyards and Winery in Sonoma, which has since been sold. Both women have strong philanthropic inclinations and have each raised millions of dollars for children in need, among other causes. 

Barbara Banke and Peggy Furth, founders of WindRacer Wines.

WindRacer

WindRacer’s first vintage release is from 2018. It produced two single vineyard Chardonnays, one from Russian River Valley and one from Alexander Valley, that retail for $65. There are four Pinot Noirs in the portfolio, from Russian River Valley, Anderson Valley, and Sonoma Coast, that retail for $75. They are made in very small quantities ranging from 1,320 bottles to 3180 bottles. The wines are in limited release in New York, California, Florida, and Kentucky, and are also available online. When asked about the small quantities as compared to many of the other wines that Jackson Family produces, Barbara Banke explained, “We want to take great little sections of the vineyards and produce wines that are really the Thoroughbreds of their class.”

One of the four bottlings of WindRacer Pinot Noir, Skycrest Vineyard from Anderson Valley.

WindRacer

Questioned about the origin of the brand and the name WindRacer, Banke told us, “We have shared interests in horses; Peggy in dressage and her grandkids do hunter jumpers, and me in racehorses. We wanted something that had a horse on the label, and we love Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, so we decided to curate some of the vineyards that I own in California and take selected pieces. I have a really good winemaker, Nikki Weerts, who is from South Africa originally, making the wines for us so it’s a combination of our interests in wine and horses.”  

Peggy Furth made herself available to explain the origin of WindRacer, the passion that she and Barbara share, and the important details behind one of the wine world’s newest and most exciting collaborations.

World Wine Guys: How did the WindRacer partnership between you and Barbara Banke come about?

Peggy Furth: Barbara and I have collaborated on a number of projects and shared experiences involving global wine business travel, Thoroughbred racing, and philanthropy. In business we have also partnered on generating new uses for vineyard byproducts with WholeVine, from which we then created a consumer product using our Chardonnay Marc (byproduct) for Vine to Bar chocolates, and finally developed WindRacer Wines, bringing our collaborations full circle as entrepreneurs.

From our shared interests in wine and horses we decided to pursue a “best in class” philosophy for WindRacer wines. Some of our favorite wine varieties are Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, those are wines we choose to drink at home, so those are the wines we decided to focus on.

We’ve been asked, “Why horses and wine?” There are so many similarities: the dedication, the passion, and the precision that it takes to raise a Thoroughbred and to raise a grape. People may not think those two are related at all, but being in both industries, there are many similarities, and it does require an incredible team of people. You can’t do either one of these things alone no matter what your dreams are, and it takes a lot of professionalism.

WWG: What is the story behind the name WindRacer? 

PF: The name WindRacer is a combination of “Wind” as a description of the climate at higher elevation coastal growing regions, representing the extreme viticulture single vineyards we source from, and “Racer” representing horses, their strength and beauty. We are always searching for novel Thoroughbred horse names that hopefully speak to pedigree, so naming a wine brand was comparatively easy. WindRacer epitomizes our combined passions of producing luxury wines and elite horses.

WindRacer winemaker Nikki Weerts samples Pinot Noir from the barrel.

WindRacer

WWG: How was the winemaking and viticultural team for WindRacer put together?

PF: Shaun Kajiwara is the Vineyard Director for Jackson Family Wines, where he has worked since 2007, so these are estate vineyards he knows by heart. Shaun regularly walks these vineyards year-round, knows the difficult terrain and climate, and helps us choose specific rows within the single vineyard blocks to dedicate to WindRacer Wines. Shaun is hands on and in sync with these vineyard sites, the very best person on the ground for WindRacer.

Nikki Weerts has known Barbara since she arrived for her first US vintage as an intern with JFW in 2009. She is from South Africa, where she still spends half the year, and Barbara has generously included her in holidays since her family is so far away, so she has become an extended part of the family. Over the past 12 years Nikki has also worked with and made wines with Shaun Kajiwara and they had already developed a great working relationship and friendship. We loved Nikki’s international experience in New Zealand, South Africa, and the US, and sat down with Nikki and Shaun over a holiday weekend about our WindRacer project, our vision, style, and direction. We wanted new energy and Nikki fit perfectly with us, so we connected this fabulous duo to develop WindRacer Wines with us.

WWG: Why did you and Barbara decide to release a small production luxury wine brand? 

PF: Why small batches? It’s more fun! We ask Shaun to find the best places within a diverse array of single vineyard sites and to evaluate the growing season events as harvest approaches. That foundation allows Nikki to take a holistic approach to winemaking. The result is an entire collection of wines, each distinctive and expressive of this team effort. We are blessed to have access to these extreme viticulture sites, hard to farm and challenging to make, creating a beautiful collection of wines from distinct sites.  

WindRacer vineyard site

WindRacer

WWG: What effect do the extreme viticulture sites in Sonoma and Mendocino have on the flavor profiles of your WindRacer wines? 

PF: Each and every site, because of its specific location, has distinctive characteristics that shine through each wine. They are all different, dynamic, and elegant wines because of where they come from. What makes the project so exciting is that winemaking takes full advantage of these grapes by letting the vineyard lead the wines. Nikki is working with fruit that Shaun farms in intense conditions and she is getting what we want out of the fruit, by doing as little as possible in the winery. That’s why extreme viticulture sites are worth the hard work; the sense of place comes through when you are farming these challenging sites, really giving a true sense of place. 

Our selected cooler climate sites and higher elevation sites tend to have higher natural acidity which allows Nikki to make wines which are bright and fresh and also age beautifully. The coastal influence on our sites is aromatically very distinctive especially for Sealift Vineyard: the salinity of the soil shines through! Acidity levels are naturally higher in cooler climates and Nikki picks earlier than most winemakers. The beauty of fruit with high natural acidity is that you retain freshness and fruit flavors and the wines are super capable of aging. I can’t wait to see how they evolve over the next 10-plus years! The extreme viticulture is a major attribute to the flavor profile which adds another layer of complexity to our wines year after year.

It’s also a challenge to farm these sites for Shaun because there are years the fruit just doesn’t ripen and it can rot quickly in those cold, damp areas, so there may be years we won’t be able to pick fruit from all these vineyards to make WindRacer Wines at this quality. It’s all part of working with these challenging, but delicious single vineyard sites, where Shaun and Nikki pick specific rows of fruit for our WindRacer Wines.

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Wine Market Insights and Growth Analysis by Packaging Type (Bottles and Cans), Distribution Channel (Food Service and Retail (Specialty Stores, Supermarkets & Hypermarkets, and others), by Type (Red Wine, White Wine, Sparkling Wine, Rosé Wine, and others), and Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World), Competitive Market Trends, Size, Share, and Forecast till 2027

/EIN News/ — New York, US, July 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wine Market Overview

According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR), “Wine Market Information by Packaging Type, Distribution Channal and Region – Forecast till 2027”, the market is forecasted to cross USD 444 billion 2027 at 5.95% CAGR.

Market Scope:

The increasing disposable income levels driven by a developing economy are having a considerable impact on the wine market. Increased demand for quality alcohol is also driving the wine market due to the accessibility of numerous product types in wine, supporting the growth of the wine market. Besides, an elevated level of focus on research and development has directed modernizations in several wine varieties by testing unique flavors, powering the global wine market. Furthermore, the evolution in awareness associated with wine products among consumers via social media platforms has reinforced wine sales to a better degree globally. The approval of wine is also validated by surging wine tourism and distinct programs focused on presenting wine zones and various wines with reliable and clear origins. As a result, the move of consumers towards higher-quality wines is linked to traditional wines. For instance, Vera Wang, a celebrated fashion designer whose brand is equal to a celebration, has presented her first Prosecco creation. To make the Vera Wang Party Prosecco, Wang joined with Italian wine manufacturer Araldica Vigneti, controlled by second-generation vintner Claudio Manera. The sleek matte silver bottle with neon lettering will look familiar to Wang’s fanbase as the apparel maker enters the wine business.

Market USP Covered:

Market Drivers:

The wine market is estimated to be motivated by the rising buying potential of the consumers and the improved accessibility to different varieties of wine. Moreover, wine producers are increasingly collaborating with other companies to expand their brand reach, which is estimated to benefit the wine market in the forecast period.

Get Free Sample PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1655

Competitive Landscape:

The distinguished companies in the wine market are:

• Castel Group (France)
• Bacardi Limited (Bermuda)
• Compagnia Del Vino SRL (Italy)
• E & J Gallo Winery (US)
• Treasury Wine Estates (Australia)
• Pernod Ricard (France)
• Grupo Peñaflor S.A. (Argentina)
• Diageo plc (UK)
• The Wine Group (US)
• Constellation Brands (US)
• Caviro (Italy)
• Accolade Wines (Australia)
• Amvyx SA (Greece)
• Gruppo Campari (Italy)
• Viña Concha y Toro S.A. (Chile)

Enartis has recently announced the promotion of a new selection of products – Easytech – that offers more straightforward preparation methods that make winery processes easier and decreases the resources needed to sufficiently prepare products, counting energy, water, equipment, and most significantly, staff. In addition, the two yeast strains counted in the Easytech portfolio have been carefully chosen for their intrinsic characteristics and production process, making them suitable for direct inoculation without needing rehydration to guarantee optimal fermentation performance.

Market Restraints:

The wine market is anticipated to be restricted by the seasonal nature of harvests, limiting the growth potential in the upcoming period. Recently, a digital eye mounted on a tractor could help New Zealand wine-growers cultivate valuable data on every single plant growing in a vineyard to combat this issue. Cropsy, an invention from a group of young Auckland tech technologists, can by now count gatherings of grapes on vines and sense disease and pest problems to curtail crop loss and guess yields. Trials throughout the 2021-22 growing period would be exploited to geolocate each plant in a vineyard to note their individual attributes, giving cultivators a detailed summary of each plant. Also, the trade regulations in certain regions may impede the development of the wine market.

Browse In-depth Market Research Report (150 Pages) on Wine: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/wine-market-1655

COVID 19 Analysis

The COVID 19 market created a burgeoning level of demand for the wine market. As a result, the consumer was inclined towards purchasing wine products more often than in pre-COVID situations. The loss of men in several regions has dramatically affected the harvests and the wine market’s yield.

Market Segmentation

By type, the grape segment will lead the global market in the future.

The bottle segment is estimated to draw more consumer preference in the forecast period by packaging type.

The specialty segment is estimated to have the edge over the other segments in the approaching period by distribution channel.

Buy Now: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1655

Regional Insights

The regional wine market in North America is anticipated to lead the global wine market owing to the climbing demand for entertaining activities. Additionally, the rapidly increasing food service business is likely to foster the development of the worldwide wine market.

On the other hand, the Asia-Pacific regional wine market is forecasted to grow at the maximum CAGR globally due to intensifying disposable revenue. In addition, the swiftly mounting youth population is projected to boost the progress of the global wine market in the region.

On the other hand, the wine market in the rest of the world segment is anticipated to cultivate at a stable rate due to increasing expenditure on recreational pursuits in countries of South America, such as Argentina, Chile, and Brazil.

Share your Queries @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1655

About Market Research Future:

Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis with regard to diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions.

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Originally Appeared Here

CMP Bar & Grill has worked with The Tasting Class to train front of house staff on its new wine list.

The Tasting Class developed a two-day workshop to introduce the staff to the intricacies of wine pairings. This included comparative tastings and wine pairing principles, focusing on food pairing also. The Tasting Class said the class also built up the confidence of the staff to sell and up-sell wines.

Why CMP Bar & Grill and The Tasting Class is a good fit

“We really wanted to give everyone on the floor the tools and confidence to use the wine list to its full potential,” said Lindsay Trivers, CEO of The Tasting Class.

“Everyone says it’s red wine with red meat but there is much more to it than that. CMP has an extensive range of cuts, with different cooking methods, temperatures and sauces which react differently to wine varieties. Rather than train everyone on wine pairings for each dish on the menu, we wanted to give the team the skills to make recommendations themselves, no matter what’s on the menu.”

Sahil Anand, director, CMP Bar & Grill, added: “The Tasting Class has a great reputation for training with an emphasis on elevating the dining experience, so they were the natural choice to develop this programme. For CMP it’s all about the experience and empowering our staff. When our team is recommending wines, we want the customer to feel like they have made a conscious choice to enhance their dining experience with us.” 

The CMP Bar & Grill team

The Tasting Class provides hospitality consultancy and staff training designed to enhance the restaurant experience via menu and staff beverage training services. In 2017, The Tasting Class became the first Approved Programme Provider to offer qualifications from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) to both consumers and trade in the region and, since then, has led almost 1,000 students through the programme. 

Trivers is also on the Caterer Middle East Awards judging panel. To find out more about the event click here.

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Originally Appeared Here

New York, US, July 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wine Market Overview

According to a comprehensive research report by Market Research Future (MRFR), “Wine Market Information by Packaging Type, Distribution Channal and Region – Forecast till 2027”, the market is forecasted to cross USD 444 billion 2027 at 5.95% CAGR.

Market Scope:

The increasing disposable income levels driven by a developing economy are having a considerable impact on the wine market. Increased demand for quality alcohol is also driving the wine market due to the accessibility of numerous product types in wine, supporting the growth of the wine market. Besides, an elevated level of focus on research and development has directed modernizations in several wine varieties by testing unique flavors, powering the global wine market. Furthermore, the evolution in awareness associated with wine products among consumers via social media platforms has reinforced wine sales to a better degree globally. The approval of wine is also validated by surging wine tourism and distinct programs focused on presenting wine zones and various wines with reliable and clear origins. As a result, the move of consumers towards higher-quality wines is linked to traditional wines. For instance, Vera Wang, a celebrated fashion designer whose brand is equal to a celebration, has presented her first Prosecco creation. To make the Vera Wang Party Prosecco, Wang joined with Italian wine manufacturer Araldica Vigneti, controlled by second-generation vintner Claudio Manera. The sleek matte silver bottle with neon lettering will look familiar to Wang’s fanbase as the apparel maker enters the wine business.

Market USP Covered:

Market Drivers:

The wine market is estimated to be motivated by the rising buying potential of the consumers and the improved accessibility to different varieties of wine. Moreover, wine producers are increasingly collaborating with other companies to expand their brand reach, which is estimated to benefit the wine market in the forecast period.

Get Free Sample PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1655

Competitive Landscape:

The distinguished companies in the wine market are:

• Castel Group (France)
• Bacardi Limited (Bermuda)
• Compagnia Del Vino SRL (Italy)
• E & J Gallo Winery (US)
• Treasury Wine Estates (Australia)
• Pernod Ricard (France)
• Grupo Peñaflor S.A. (Argentina)
• Diageo plc (UK)
• The Wine Group (US)
• Constellation Brands (US)
• Caviro (Italy)
• Accolade Wines (Australia)
• Amvyx SA (Greece)
• Gruppo Campari (Italy)
• Viña Concha y Toro S.A. (Chile)

Enartis has recently announced the promotion of a new selection of products – Easytech – that offers more straightforward preparation methods that make winery processes easier and decreases the resources needed to sufficiently prepare products, counting energy, water, equipment, and most significantly, staff. In addition, the two yeast strains counted in the Easytech portfolio have been carefully chosen for their intrinsic characteristics and production process, making them suitable for direct inoculation without needing rehydration to guarantee optimal fermentation performance.

Market Restraints:

The wine market is anticipated to be restricted by the seasonal nature of harvests, limiting the growth potential in the upcoming period. Recently, a digital eye mounted on a tractor could help New Zealand wine-growers cultivate valuable data on every single plant growing in a vineyard to combat this issue. Cropsy, an invention from a group of young Auckland tech technologists, can by now count gatherings of grapes on vines and sense disease and pest problems to curtail crop loss and guess yields. Trials throughout the 2021-22 growing period would be exploited to geolocate each plant in a vineyard to note their individual attributes, giving cultivators a detailed summary of each plant. Also, the trade regulations in certain regions may impede the development of the wine market.

Browse In-depth Market Research Report (150 Pages) on Wine: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/wine-market-1655

COVID 19 Analysis

The COVID 19 market created a burgeoning level of demand for the wine market. As a result, the consumer was inclined towards purchasing wine products more often than in pre-COVID situations. The loss of men in several regions has dramatically affected the harvests and the wine market’s yield.

Market Segmentation

By type, the grape segment will lead the global market in the future.

The bottle segment is estimated to draw more consumer preference in the forecast period by packaging type.

The specialty segment is estimated to have the edge over the other segments in the approaching period by distribution channel.

Buy Now: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/checkout?currency=one_user-USD&report_id=1655

Regional Insights

The regional wine market in North America is anticipated to lead the global wine market owing to the climbing demand for entertaining activities. Additionally, the rapidly increasing food service business is likely to foster the development of the worldwide wine market.

On the other hand, the Asia-Pacific regional wine market is forecasted to grow at the maximum CAGR globally due to intensifying disposable revenue. In addition, the swiftly mounting youth population is projected to boost the progress of the global wine market in the region.

On the other hand, the wine market in the rest of the world segment is anticipated to cultivate at a stable rate due to increasing expenditure on recreational pursuits in countries of South America, such as Argentina, Chile, and Brazil.

Share your Queries @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1655

About Market Research Future:

Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis with regard to diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions.

Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter

>>> Don't Miss Today's BEST Amazon Deals!
Originally Appeared Here

MadFish Wines has unveiled a bold and colorful new label to celebrate the brand’s 30th anniversary.

Designed by South West multi-disciplinary visual artist Kyle Hughes-Odgers, known for using bright colors and bold shapes inspired by nature, the new label features an abstract interpretation of the region’s coastline with a color palette that combines both land and sea.

Launched in 1992, the brand’s quirky name was inspired by winemaker Jeff Burch’s love of the South West coastline, where two opposing tides collide, causing schools of fish to jump like “mad”. According to the company, the coastal location of MadFish also adds a fresh, crisp flavor to the wines.

“Being so close to the South West coastline provides us with ideal conditions to both grow grapes and enjoy the surf,” Burch said.

“Although the landscape here is rough and rather dramatic, the wines that are born from it are surprisingly smooth and refined, yet still possess the beautiful liveliness of the region. It is exciting to see how Kyle has captured this unique feel through his designs.”

The brand’s range features a collection of wine varieties, including bright and refreshing Prosecco; approachable whites like the Chardonnay, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc Semillon; food-partner Rose; and rich, juicy reds like Pinot Noir, Grenache, Shiraz, and Cabernet Melot.

In line with the label revamp, the brand has also redesigned its website with the same aesthetics. In addition, the wines, under new winemaker Nic Bowen, will be made vegan from 2021 and beyond.

MadFish Wines is available for RRP $18 available online and in liquor stores nationwide.

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Originally Appeared Here