Las week I came across a grocery store wine sales report that outlined the main varietals and the main wine regions sold in US grocery stores (note the data does not include sales from restaurants and other non grocery stores). The grocery store data is very indicative of what is going on in the market place but not all perfect (big disclaimer). Nevertheless, let me tell you that Washington and Riesling are looking pretty good (we like that at Pacific Rim) – the data is for the past 52 weeks total dollars sold:

Main Wine Regions:

- Big #1: California: $3,000M

- Next three: Australia: $429M, Italy: $305M, Washington: $257M

- Next Six: Chile: $87M, France: $85M, Argentina: $55M, Germany: $55M, New Zealand: $52M, Spain $42M

I know this is only grocery, but look at WA, not bad at all in this channel no?

Main Varietals:

- Big #1: Chardonnay: $942M

- Next three: Cabernet: $558M, Merlot: $423M, Pinot Gris/Grigio: $332M

- Next Six: Pinot Noir: $252M, Sauvignon Blanc: $195M, White Zinfandel: $229M, Riesling: $136M, Syrah: $136M, Zinfandel: $118

Well, looks like Riesling is about to -or will soon-  pass Syrah. Next “varietal” to beat is White Zinfandel!

Now is the time to look at yields and estimate the size of the harvest. We are practically done estimating at Pacific Rim and we think we will have a normal yield with some vineyards affected with some shatter (shatter = less berries per cluster due to bad fruit set). All in all we are happy with the size of harvest and the cooler weather which will probably delay harvest 8 to 12 days.

I have also received today a crop estimation from the Washington Association of Grape Grower (hence the post) and it confirms the delay in ripening due to cool weather. The current estimate for total crop for Washington is 156,000 tons (10 million cases) which would be flat to slightly up vs actual 2009 harvest. Chardonnay would still be #1, Riesling #2, Merlot #3 and Cabernet #4. All top four varietal would be slightly down except Merlot (be ready for some cheap Merlot out there!). Major growth in volume is projected to come from Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah (Syrah is struggling in the market place, so expect bit of oversupply) and Cabernet franc (what in heaven is going on with Cab Franc +1,500 tons?).

The data monster is coming out of its cave again after chewing on a great report released by Gallup looking at alcohol consumption in the USA (full article here). Plenty of fun data in this report highlighted below:

• 67% of american drink alcohol, 33% do not. The archetype of the non drinker is over 55, has less than a high school degree, makes less than $20K/yr, attend church weekly and is Protestant – can’t wait to meet you Mr non-drinker. The classic alcohol indulger is young, college educated, seldomly go to church, make more than $75/yr and is agnostic – you sound a bit better Mr indulger but you sound too much like Gordon Gekko.
• Beer is still the #1 preferred alcoholic drink in the USA (wine is #2, spirits #3). The archetype beer drinker is male, under 34 from the midwest while the archetype wine drinker is female, 50 and older, from the East coast (guess who I am hanging out with? hint: I am more comfortable at the Opera than at a Rodeo). Women from the south also ranks the highest for spirit consumption – go southern girls!