Fueled by flights, blind tastings, grab-and-go options, and store improvements, savvy retailers are experiencing brisk wine sales this autumn. Peter Granoff, owner and partner of the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant in San Francisco, California has observed a tangible shift with more foot traffic and positivity in the city and the Ferry Building. Granoff notes 2025 was the first year since 2019 he experienced increased sales over the prior year, and that trend continues this year. “Canned cocktails, canned wine, and no alcohol options move steadily from a grab-and-go case at the front of the store—a key part of our response,” he says. “It’s a large case and wasn’t there before this year.”
Leading single-serve options at the store include St. Agrestis Amaro Falso ($6 a 200-ml.), Avinyó Petillant, Catalonia, Spain ($6 a 250-ml. can), Hunt & Harvest Sauvignon Blanc, Mendocino, California ($7 a 250-ml. can), Social Hour Navy Strength Gin & Tonic ($7.00 a 250-ml. can), and Moth Mojito Cocktails ($7 a 200-ml). “Chillable, quaffable reds have also been a strong category, so much so that we added a section labeled as such to the wine bar menu,” Granoff says, noting examples include 2025 Los Conejos Malditos Tempranillo Carbonico, Spain ($16 a 750-ml.), and 2023 Domaine Les Gryphees Julienas ‘En Rivière’, France ($24).
Crisp unoaked whites such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chablis and Chablis imitators, Gruner Veltliner, and Italian, Slovenian, and Greek wines are also key sales drivers, according to Granoff. Top sellers include 2024 Turnbull Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Oakville-Napa Valley ($25 a 750-ml.); 2024 Semeli “Mountain Sun” Moschofilero/Sauvignon Blanc, Peloponnese, Greece ($18), and 2023 Gilbert Picq Chablis ‘Dessus la Carriere’, France ($43.50).
The store’s “Flight Nights” on most Wednesdays continues to anchor promotional efforts. “With younger consumers in mind, we have started mixing these up a bit,” Granoff says. “Where historically they have featured a guest winery or importer, we have added ‘Blind Flight Nights’ that are a fun and interactive format and incorporate some sort of challenge. We curate these ourselves and are the ones speaking with customers instead of a guest from outside.”
In New Hampshire, retail tastings, educational seminars, and food-and-wine pairing events are helping drive wine sales. “Today’s shoppers are looking for guidance and confidence in their purchasing decisions, whether they are selecting a wine for a special meal, or exploring a new varietal,” says Joseph Mollica, chairman of the New Hampshire Liquor Commission (NHLC).
The NHLC has developed a robust lineup of marketing, promotional, and educational initiatives this fall designed to engage consumers, drive product discovery, and support seasonal wine purchasing occasions. “These efforts combine experiential events, retail activations, tastings, and digital content to connect consumers with wines that complement fall entertaining and holiday celebrations,” Mollica says.
As Granite State consumers transition into the fall and holiday entertaining season, wine categories and regions showing strong sales momentum across NHLC retail outlets include sparkling wines, New Zealand, French and Italian imports, and domestic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. “The strongest-performing category is sparkling wine, which continues to deliver double-digit growth fueled by increasing demand in both the luxury and super-luxury segments,” Mollica says. “Consumers are increasingly choosing sparkling wines not only for celebrations but also for everyday entertaining occasions.”
Top-performing imported sparklers include La Marca Prosecco ($18 a 750-ml.) and Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label ($60). “New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc also remains one of the industry’s most consistent growth stories and has shown little sign of slowing,” Mollica says. “Value-oriented pricing and promotional activity continue to drive sales, led by brands such as Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc ($15), which remains a customer favorite.”
French wines are also performing exceptionally well, particularly those from Burgundy, Provence and the Loire Valley. Standout imported brands include Whispering Angel Rosé ($24), Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuissé ($33), and Alphonse Dolly Sancerre Cuvée Silex ($42). Larger format Italian wines such as Cavit Pinot Grigio ($16 1.5-liters) and Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio ($15 1.5-liters) continue experiencing growth. Domestic Pinot Noir offerings from Meiomi ($20), Bread & Butter ($17), and Mark West ($13) continue benefiting from brand recognition and demand, according to Mollica.
At McCabes Wine & Spirits in New York City, store owner Daniel Mesznik is seeing an increased demand for chilled reds. “As a result, we have five to eight in the fridge at any given time,” he says. “White Burgundy continues to drive French sales so we’ve added more SKUs at every price-point from Macon to Grand Cru. Oregon Pinot Noir in high demand. Adelsheim ($32 a 750-ml.) from the Willamette Valley is moving like gangbusters.”
McCabes offers two dozen wines on sale each month. This October the store is featuring The Prisoner ($90 for two 750-ml. bottles).
In November, McCabes will have an-store tastings every Thursday and Friday at the store’s newly built tasting bar. “We’re optimistic that the $20-$40 guest will continue to shop with us,” Mesznik says. “Year-to-date we’ve experienced sustained growth both in transactions as well as in volume, which we realize not everyone is experiencing. The Reserve Room we built in 2024-2025 has been a major factor in our growth and allowed us to feature everything from First Growth Bordeaux to Tete de Cuvee Champagne as well as large format unicorns including Chave, D’Angerville, and even Produttori del Barbaresco.”