Impact’s Domestic Wine “Hot Prospects” Reveal Crop Of Fast-Rising Standouts
Copyright 2015 Shanken News Daily
With the U.S. market’s domestic wine category in growth mode, the segment is seeing its fair share of standout performances, and this year’s Impact “Hot Prospects” list highlights some of the best. The roster—which includes a total of 29 domestic wine brands—is especially diverse this year, boasting seven Washington state entries, as well as an Oregon offering, a sangria and even a specialty wine-based cocktail. A wide range of price points is also represented, from entry-level offerings like Bronco Wine Co.’s Green Fin, which plays in the $5 range, all the way to super-premium players like Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits’ Joseph Carr.
To qualify as Hot Prospects, wine brands must have posted 15% depletions growth in the previous year while also showing consistent growth in the preceding two years. Volumes must reach at least 50,000 cases but not more than 250,000 cases. New products can qualify as Hot Prospects if they pass the 50,000-case mark in their first year.
Top performers on the domestic wine Hot Prospects list include a variety of accessibly priced premium brands, including The Wine Group’s Cocobon and Terlato’s Seven Daughters, among others. Other 100,000-case plus honorees include DFV’s Belle Ambiance and HandCraft brands, Myx Beverage’s Myx Fusions specialty wine cocktail and Diageo’s The Great American Wine Co., all of which have been on the market for a relatively short period of time.
With Washington’s star rising quickly, the state’s outsized presence on this year’s lineup comes as no surprise. The Washington winners were led by E.&J. Gallo’s Columbia brand, followed closely by Precept Wines, which earned Hot Prospects honors for four brands: Radius, Canoe Ridge, Waterbrook and its 3-liter bag-in-box range House Wine Box.
For the complete list and analysis of Impact’s Hot Prospect domestic wines, see the upcoming September 1&15 issue of Impact.