StateWays is the only magazine exclusively covering the control state system within the beverage alcohol industry, with annual updates from liquor control commissions and alcohol control boards and yearly fiscal reporting from control jurisdictions
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27 StateWays Q www.stateways.com Q March/April 2014 T he Wine Established Growth Brand category focuses on top-selling, high-volume wine brands that have shown consistent growth over each of the past four years. These are some of the industry's powerhouse brands that help comprise the backbone of wine sales in the U.S. This year, there are 14 brands represented compared to 9 that made the list last year. Clearly, a number of best-selling wines in the U.S. did not qualify, primarily because they had a sales decline for at least one year between 2009 and 2012. The top-volume Established Growth brand is the well- known Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, with a lineup of more than a dozen value-priced California wines, which climbed to sales of just under 9 million 9-liter cases last year. The wines from Cupcake Vineyards (3.15 million cases) moved over from the Fast Track last year. Cupcake's extensive portfolio of whites, reds and sparkling wines are sourced from California as well as from most of the world's major wine-producing regions. E&J Gallo s has three high-volume brands represented here. Wycliff, primarily known for its value-priced spar- kling wines, eclipsed 2.9 million cases in 2013; Liberty Creek, a line of value-priced, fast-moving 1.5 liter varietals, registered sales of 2.35 million cases; and Mirassou, an ex- tensive portfolio of California varietals, garnered sales just north of 1 million cases. Returning to the Established Growth category is Trinchero Family Estate's Menage a Trois lineup. Usu- ally sold for $10 and up, the line features Red Table Wine, White Table Wine, Rose, Chardonnay, Moscato, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. The brand hit sales of more than 2.2 million cases. Trinchero Family Estates is also represented here by Sycamore Lane, featur- ing a line of value California varietals (665,000 cases). Once again, the highest percentage gainer among the Established Growth Brands list includes the premium- priced J. Lohr Estates, which notched a 18.0% gain, to more than 1.4 million cases. Constellation counts two new brands here. Estancia Estates generated sales of 935,000 cases in 2013, a 6.9% gain. The Monterey, CA line features a wide array of vari- etals and other offerings in three tiers with prices ranging from mid- to superpremium. And imported from Tuscany, Ruffi no's well-known Chianti saw sales increase 9.8% last year to 900,000 cases. Moving over from the Fast Track is DFV's Gnarly Head line of mid-priced wines, with the brand growing to 662,000 cases. From Spain, Shaw-Ross' Real Sangria returns to the Established Growth Brands list, with sales totaling 550,000 cases, while Wente Vineyards, with its extensive portfolio of premium to superpremium wines, also is a returning member. The brand gained an impressive 15.7% in 2013, to attain sales of 480,000 cases. T his category recognizes those wine brands of signifi cant volume that saw sales declines two years ago (2012), but which rebounded in 2013. This increase, however, must re- sult in sales totals that are at least equal to or greater than the 2011 sales totals. This year there are three Wine Comeback Brands. The value-focused Cavit wine, imported from Italy by Palm Bay International, features its popular Pinot Grigio as well as Pinot Noir, Merlot, Riesling, Chardonnay, Ter- oldego and Cabernet Sauvignon. The sold more than 3.55 million cases in 2013, reversing it 2012 sales decline. Gekkeikan Sake, from Sidney Frank Importing, like- wise rebounded in 2103 from a slightly down year in 2012. The best-selling sake in the U.S., Gekkeikan just released Suzaku, its fi rst-ever Junmai Ginjo-Shu or "Ginjo" to be introduced here. The brand sold 450,000 cases last year. Finally, Brazin Cellars Old Vine Zinfandels, produced in Lodi, CA, also reversed a tiny decline in 2012 with 2013 sales of 34,000 cases. '12/'13 Brand Supplier 2011 2012 2013p % Chg Cavit Palm Bay International 3,524 3,485 3,555 2.0% Gekkeikan Sake Sidney Frank Importing 438 436 450 3.2% Brazin DFV Wines 31 30 34 13.3% (p) Preliminary. Source: The Beverage Information Group Handbooks & Directories. To learn more go to www.bevinfostore.com. WINE ESTABLISHED GROWTH BRANDS WINE COMEBACK BRANDS COMEBACK BRANDS Recognizes brands of signifi cant volume that saw a sales decline in 2012, but which rebounded in 2013. This increase, however, must have resulted in total sales that are at least equal to or greater than the 2011 sales total. WINES (Thousands of 9-liter cases)