Press Release: 2007 Top USA Restaurant Wines

Top 100 Wine Brands & Top 100 Individual Wines in USA Restaurants in 2007 Unveiled by Restaurant Wine Magazine

NAPA, Calif.—September 3, 2008—The wine landscape in USA restaurants clearly shifted in 2007, according to a report released today by Restaurant Wine magazine.

In two articles researched and written by Master of Wine and publisher, Ronn Wiegand, the Top 100 Wine Brands and Top 100 Individual Wines sold in USA restaurants in 2007 are listed, based on total 9-liter cases consumed across the entire spectrum of American restaurants licensed to serve wine, from casual to fine dining restaurants.

Changes Among the Top 100 Wine Brands

Although the on-premise market for wine grew in 2007, the share held by the Top 100 Wine Brands dipped slightly, to 41.5%, due to increased competition, Wiegand notes in this report.

The Top 100 Wine Brands come from only six countries: Australia, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, and the USA. Of these, only Australia lost market share in 2007, due primarily to supply problems.

Seven brands appear on the 2007 list that were not present on the 2006 list. They are: MacMurray Ranch (#48); Toasted Head (#79); Vino Casata (#82); Canyon Road (#84); Concannon (#85); Red Rock Winery (#87); Bogle (#92); Domaine Chandon (#95); and Gabbiano (96).

The minimum case sales in USA restaurants required to make the 2007 list rose to 110,000 cases, up from 105,000 cases for the 2006 list.

The five brands with the greatest sales volume increases on-premise from 2006 to 2007 were: Red Rock Winery (+243%); MacMurray Ranch (+110%); Smoking Loon (+81.8%); Canyon Road (+71.4%); and Barefoot Cellars (+66.7%)

Changes Among the Top 100 Individual Wines

In terms of varietal wines, the big winners in 2007 on-premise in terms of case sales among the Top 100 Individual Wines were Pinot Noir (+89%), Riesling (+45%), and Pinot Grigio (+22.5%).

Chardonnay sales among the Top 100 Individual Wines grew a respectable 7%, accounting for 30% (by volume) of the 100 most popular wines consumed on-premise in the USA in 2007.

For the first time ever, Pinot Grigio ranked behind Chardonnay as the second most popular varietal wine in USA restaurants in 2007, surpassing White Zinfandel, whose Top 100 sales declined by 15%.

For the first time ever, a Sauvignon Blanc and a Sangiovese made it to the Top 100 list of the most popular wines sold in USA restaurants. The wines: Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc and Ruffino Chianti.

The 5 wines whose on-premise volumes increased the most from 2006 to 2007 were: Sycamore Lane Pinot Grigio (+2,000); Louis M. Martini Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon (+280%); Red Rock Winery Merlot (+243%); Whitehaven Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (+157%); and Schmitt Soehne Relax Riesling from Germany (+129%).

The minimum case sales in USA restaurants required to make the 2007 individual wines list rose to 80,000 cases, up from 75,000 cases for the 2006 list.

Figures for both articles were drawn from reliable industry sources, and from extensive interviews with restaurateurs, distributors, importers, and wineries throughout the USA..

The “Top 100 Wine Brands” and “Top 100 Wines” lists are published only in Restaurant Wine, in the double issue (#125-126). Single copies are available for $50/each in the USA, prepaid, or $56/each (prepaid in $US) in all other countries, and may be ordered online at www.restaurantwine.com or by calling (707) 224-4777.

RESTAURANT WINE is a bimonthly journal on wine for the hospitality and wine industries, and has been published by Wiegand since 1988. Subscriptions are $109/year in the USA. Address: P.O. Box 222, Napa, CA 94559-0222.

RESTAURANT WINE “TOP 20 of the TOP 100 WINE BRANDS” ON-PREMISE 2007

RESTAURANT WINE “TOP 20 of the TOP 100 INDIVIDUAL WINES” OF 2007 ON-PREMISE

Copyright 2008 by Wiegand and Boblitt, FLP

CONTACT: 
Restaurant Wine, Brenda Boblitt
707/224-4777
ronn.wiegand@gmail.com
www.restaurantwine.com