Sales of Premium-Priced Rosé Wines
Up 45%
Pink
Wine Gains New Respect Among Wine Connoisseurs
June 14,
2007, Schaumburg, IL: Sales
of premium-priced rosé wines have
shot up 45% in the past year, according
to new data from The Nielsen Company,
making the $6 and over segment of this
varietal one of the hottest emerging growth
segments in all table and sparkling wine.
"It
used to be that pink wine meant white
zinfandel or generic jug wines,"
said Brian Lechner, Director of Client
Service, Nielsen Beverage Alcohol. "That
is rapidly changing. The phenomenal growth
in higher-priced rosé wine over
the past year tells us that this segment
is finding a sophisticated new audience."
For
the 52 weeks ending March 10, 2007, rosé
table wines accounted for more than $9.0
million in sales in food, drug and liquor
stores, up +45% from the previous year,
a significant lead over the +8% increase
for the overall table wine category. Sparkling
rosé wines showed similar trends,
up +40% compared to +4% for all sparkling
wine.
There were 28 new brands of premium rosé
wine introduced in 2006, nearly twice
as many as the 15 brands launched in 2005.
Top-selling rosé wines are also
much more diverse in their country of
origin than premium-priced chardonnays,
cabernets and merlots. Six of the most
popular rosés are from France,
two are American, and the remaining two
are from Spain and South Africa, as compared
to the other popular varietals, for which
at least eight of the top 10 are produced
in the US.
"Consumers
are seeking new experiences as wine consumption
continues to grow and mature, and many
in the wine press are recognizing and
heralding the emergence of premium rosés
as a refreshing alternative to mainstay
varietals," Lechner said. "People
willing to spend more than the average
price for wine tend to be more serious
wine connoisseurs, and this tremendous
marketplace response to premium-priced
rosé demonstrates a willingness
to experiment across wine types. These
trends indicate lots of upside to expand
premium rosé consumption going
forward."
About
The Nielsen Company
The Nielsen Company is a global information
and media company with leading market
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information (ACNielsen), media information
(Nielsen Media Research), business publications
(Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Adweek),
trade shows and the newspaper sector (Scarborough
Research). The privately held company
is active in more than 100 countries,
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and New York, USA. For more information,
please visit, www.nielsen.com.