I'm a bit of a statistics wonk (hey, I'm a journalist! We make our living off of stats) and have compiled some of the more interesting wine stats of 2008 that I've gotten in industry emails and studies lately.
- People still see wine as an affordable indulgence, but in honor of the recession they're drinking more at home and cutting back in restaurants, according to a Nielsen survey.
- In supermarkets, Pinot Noir reigns king, followed by Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Meritage. The losers were Shiraz and White Zinfandel.
- Top supermarket brands gainers: Barefoot Wine, Folie A Deux, Chateau Ste. Michelle, Estancia, Gnarly Head, Mirassou, La Crema, Red Diamond, Toasted Head, and St. Jean. Losers: Black Swan, Beringer, and Almaden.
- Red wine will beat white in popularity again in 2008, with 121 million cases over white's 118 million cases. Prior to 2006, red wine had not outsold white since 1976.
- In spite of the economy, wine sales are still healthy, growing at around 5 percent. Value wines are gaining, of course. Constellation Brands has seen a pickup in wine below $5 and in "tried and true" brands as customers are less willing to experiment.
- California sales are growing faster than imports, but New Zealand, Spain, and Argentina are the hot new foreign wine markets.
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