Beverage alcohol retailers are planning tastings and blasting out emails and social media posts to help jumpstart spring wine sales in the aftermath of a long, cold winter. “With warmer weather, sales of white wines and rosès increase significantly,” says Douglas Cibuls, owner of Lake Liquor in Ronkonkoma, New York.
Lake Liquor has wine tastings every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. “We promote tastings with emails and social media posts,” Cibuls says. “They are also on our website so customers can see if something is being tasted that they may be interested in tasting. We also heavily advertise in local papers as well as direct mail promotions.”
Cibuls notes Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Prosecco and rosè wines all become more popular among his customers as temperatures rise. Top selling brands include Kendall Jackson Chardonnay ($12 a 750-ml.), La Marca Prosecco ($15), Josh Chadonnay, Josh Sauvignon Blanc ($12 each), Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc ($14), Kris Pinot Grigio ($11), Bertrand Cotes de Rosè ($16), and Wolffer Estate Summer in a Bottle Long Island Rosè ($20). “I have also noticed Sancerre sales increasing recently,” he says.
Sancerre wines sales are also trending strong at The Wine House in Los Angeles, California. “Sancerre is still popular and so are New Zealand wines for the value,” says store owner Glen Knight. “Gaining steam is the other fun white wine from Spain, Albarino.”
Popular Sancerre wines at The Wine House include 2023 Ladoucette Comte Lafond Sancerre ($39 a 750-ml.), 2024 Lucien Reymond Sancerre Silex ($38), and 2023 Roi des Pierres Sancerre ($34). “We have increased our in-store tastings this year to help with foot traffic,” Knight says. “The great news is many producers from France and Italy have been visiting the US, which has made for some really special nights for our clients.”
Winemakers from Burgundy, France to visit to The Wine House over the past three weeks include owner/winemaker Guillaume of Domaine Louis Michel & Fils, winemaker Eric Germain of Vincent Girardin, Thibaut Liger -Belair, owner, of Thibaut Liger-Belair; and Marc Bachelet of Domaine Bachelet-Monnot. Michele Braganti, owner of Monteraponi in Chianti, Italy also recntly visited the store. “We still see a consistent sell through with our Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) classes,” Knight says. “We still lead the way for Los Angeles as the top instruction for many who want to jump into the wine world full throttle.”
Top selling New Zealand offerings at The Wine House include 2025 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough ($13 a 750-ml.), 2025 Frenzy Sauvignon Blanc Mount Richmond Estate Marlborough ($14), and 2025 Oyster Bay Wines Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough ($17). Trending Spanish wines include 2024 Albamar Albarino Rias Baixas ($30), 2023 Turonia Albarino Rias Baixas ($22), and 2024 Faustino Rivero Ulecia Albarino Rias Baixas ($18).
Meanwhile, premium magnums of white wine sell well during the spring at Lake Liquors with Cavit Pinot Grigio 1.5 ($13 a 1.5-liter) and Yellow Tail Chardonnay ($10) leading the way. Some new wine offerings are also gaining attention. “Bonanza just introduced a Chardonnay ($20 a 750-ml.) that I think will do well with the popularity of their Cabernet-Sauvignon ($40) helping with brand recognition,” Cibuls says.
Cibuls notes Josh just came out with two new whites, a Sauvignon Blanc Reserve ($16) and a sparkling blend called Seaswept ($15) he believes will do well. “We also took in an Organic Vermentino from Melacce ($18) and a new Chenin Blanc from Pine Ridge ($15) that we are going to have in our tastings to expose customers to varietals they may not be familiar with,” he says.
While red wines sell better in the cooler months, varietals keeping their momentum in the spring include Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and red blends. “Menage A Trois Red ($10), Bread & Butter Pinot Noir ($14,) and Josh Cabernet Sauvignon all sell well even in the warmer months,” Cibuls says. “Chillable reds sell better in the warmer months. 19 Crimes just recently came out with a chillable red 19 Crimes Cali Chill Red ($12) that I think could do well going into the warmer weather.”
The Wine House is experiencing similar trends. Pinot Noir sales at The Wine House are led by 2023 Sandhi Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills ($45), 2024 Siduri Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands $25, and 2023 Dumol Pinot Noir Wester Reach Russian River Valley ($75). “As we lean into spring, we see our Pinot Noir section take over, as Cabernet Sauvignon lead the way during the winter months,” Knight says. “And some of the domestic chillable reds will see an uptake as well this spring.”
As retailers welcome warmer weather, they are also sensitive to consumer trends for good price value relationships. “Customers are looking for value,” Cibul says. “The higher price point wines have slowed down, and consumers are shifting to brands offering good quality at a lower price. My staff has noticed customers asking for suggestions on wines with similar taste profiles costing less.”
In Los Angeles, Knight notes that so far this year wine sales have been all over the place. “We have pre-arrivals with top Super Tuscans from 2023 and top Brunello wines from 2021 selling to our clients, much more than last year, since the vintages well received by wine writers,” he says. “Then we have many wines in that $10-$25 range picking up steam as many people are spending less but still want a glass of wine with dinner. And then we have many more deals coming through the pipeline as wineries are feeling the burn as sales during the holidays were slower than expected.”