Overall wine sales are up 5 percent in the 52 weeks ending February 7, 2009, while case volume sales are also slightly up, rising 2.3 percent. Overall wine sales in the 13 weeks ending February 7 also gained 5 percent over the same period in The Nielsen Company-tracked supermarket chan­nel in February figures.

Year-on-year, domestic sales increased 6.1 percent and imported wine grew 2.4 percent in the 52 weeks ending February 7. Domestic wine sales gained 6.6 percent while imports only rose 1.3 percent in the 13 weeks ending February 7 versus the same time period in 2008.

Year-on-year, domestic volume has increased 3.4 percent and imported volume fell 1 percent. In terms of case volume, domestic wines grew by 4.4 percent and imported wines fell 1.9 percent in the 13 weeks ending February 7.

Chardonnay remains the top-selling varietal by far, with a 20.2 percent market share in sales and 19.4 percent share in volume. Year-on-year, Chardonnay sales have increased 4.1 percent while case volume increased 4.5 percent. In the 13 weeks ending February 7, Chardonnay sales rose 4.6 percent in sales and 5.8 percent in case volume.

Other white wines are also showing strong growth. Pinot Grigio/Gris sales have grown 8 percent in the 13 weeks ending February 7, while case sales have increased 6.8 percent. Sauvignon Blanc has grown 10.5 percent by dollar sales and 5.8 percent by case volume in the 13 weeks ending February 7. Riesling grew 8.1 percent in dollar sales and 6.2 percent in case volume in the 13 weeks ending February 7.

Cabernet Sauvignon, the flagship red, increased in sales by 7.8 percent and in case volume by 10.5 percent in the 13 weeks ending mid-February. Cabernet Sauvignon represents about 15.4 percent of all wine dollar sales and 12.2 percent of case volume, making Cabernet the second-largest wine varietal on the market.

Merlot rose slightly in sales by 0.8 percent versus the same time period last year, while case volume rose by 3.6 percent in the 13 weeks ending February 7 versus the same time period in 2008. Merlot, the third-largest wine varietal in the market, holds an 11.2 percent market share in dollar and 11.2 percent share in case volume. wbm