Sparkling wines are bucking trends and defying economic gravity at the beverage alcohol retail tier. “Sparkling wine sales continue to be the one shining light in the world of wine,” says Preston Hunt, wine buyer, Frugal MacDoogal, Nashville, Tennessee. “Last year was the fourth consecutive year sparkling wine was our No. 1 wine category in volume and profit. Our sparkling wine sales are up from last year. We are expecting continued growth. Nashville is a party town, so a lot of bubbles are consumed by locals and tourists.”
For the remainder of December, Hunt is dedicating significant floor space to sparkling wines at price points from $7 a 750-ml. of French import Pierre Brut to magnum stacks of Charles Mignon Champagne ($200 a 1.5-liter). “I have end cap displays of Treveri Blanc De Blanc ($20 a 750-ml.), an American sparkler, and Natale is Verga Prosecco ($15 a 750-m.) out and rapidly moving product.”
Hunt has scheduled tastings, is promoting sparklers on social media, and blasting out sparkling-focused email newsletters to the store’s more than 20,000 recipients. “I’ve put a bottle of Champagne in all my wine club bags to be delivered this month, and we have pre-made some grab and go wine bags for holiday gifts, all with a Champagne bottle and hand drawn info card on traditional method production,” he says.
Hunt focuses on small Champagne houses and growers, but major brands dominate. Top-sellers include Charles Mignon Premium Reserve ($40 a 750-ml.), Veuve Clicquot ($75 a 750-ml.), Andre Clouet ($50), and Laurent-Perrier Blanc De Blanc ($120 a 750-ml). Other leading sparklers include Moillard Grivot Cremant de Bourgogne ($19), Segura Viudas Cava ($11) Treveri, and Natale Verga Prosecco. “Sparkling wine sales will continue leading wine sales at our store,” Hunt says. “Nashville’s culture of celebration and tourism and the national trends of lighter bodied, bubbly, cold beverages, in a can or bottle, will continue pushing consumers to sparkling wine.”
In Hoboken, New Jersey, sales of super-premium and above sparkling wines at the two Sparrow Wine Liquor Company stores are strongly trending. “Sparkling wine, led by Champagne, is one of the most resilient sectors of the alcohol industry,” says owner and wine director Armando Luis. “The tariffs are negative, but leading producers are huge and can absorb some cost, and for retailers like us, they’re a big draw, so we’re willing to take a bit of a shave to keep historic price points.”
To promote Champagne sales, Luis began hosting an annual blind tasting of Veuve Clicquot ($70 a 750-ml.) versus Moet Chandon ($50) a couple of years ago. “Everyone votes on which they like better,” Luis says. “Champagne is the most brand dominated category in the beverage alcohol industry. It’s difficult to move people from Veuve or Moet or the general brand names.”
Sparrow also produces a website sparkling wine feature. “We emphasize Champagne and sparkling wines for gifts and celebrations,” Luis says. “There’s no better way to get a high spending customer into the store than to be super competitive with leading Champagnes.”
Other leading Champagnes at Sparrow include Casters Liebert Blanc De Noir ($40 a 750-ml.) and Ruinart Blanc de Blanc and Brut Rosè (each $99 a 750-ml.). “If you can offer a Champagne under $40 a bottle, it’s almost guaranteed to do well,” Luis says. “When people realize how good it is, they come back and buy more.”
Luis is also experiencing success with California super-premium sparklers just below Champagne’s price range, such as Schramberg ($38 a 750-ml. of Blanc De Blancs), Taittinger’s Domaine Carneros Brut ($37 a 750-ml.), Chandon Blanc De Noirs ($20 a 750-ml.), and Mumm Sparkling Brut Rose ($25 a 750-ml.). “Those labels have the Champagne houses’ prestige but at a lower price,” he says, adding other leading sparklers at Sparrow include Bohigas Cava But Rose ($20 a 750-ml.) and Conti Di San Bonifacio Prosecco ($22 a 750-ml.).
In San Francisco, California, the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant is experiencing double-digit growth this year. “Sales in general in the Ferry Building are running 10% over prior year in spite of market conditions and changes in consumption patterns,” says Peter Granoff, owner and partner of Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant in San Francisco and Oxbow Cheese and Wine Merchant in Napa, California. “It’s a reflection of the dynamism and energy in the Ferry Building Marketplace and renewed confidence in San Francisco’s recovery.”
Granoff is looking to maintain momentum with strong sparkling wine support. The Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant held its 16th Annual Champagne & Oyster Fête on December 10, featuring two flights of Champagne paired with oysters and caviar. One featured selections from iconic Champagne houses and the other showcased grower-producers.
The Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant’s Quarterly Sparkling Wine Club selections receive prominent retail display and are featured by the glass in the wine bar. Top-selling Champagnes include Jean Vessel Brut Reserve ($54 a 750-ml.), Laurent Perrier “La Cuvée” Brut ($55), and Petit & Bajan “Promise” Grand Cru Brut, ($65). Other leading sparklers include Allimant Laugner Brut Rosé, Crémant d’Alsace ($22 a 750-ml.), Une Femme Sparkling Rosé, California ($7 a 250-ml can), and Breton “La Dilettante” Vouvray Brut, ($35 a 750-ml.). “Sparkling wine is one of the stronger categories in the context of market conditions, and I expect that to continue,” Granoff says.