Jack Rabbit Pinot Grigio still the on-trade’s best-selling wine

Taking the top spot for the second year on the hop, Jack Rabbit Pinot Grigio’s on-trade sales value leapt by almost a fifth in 2019.

While Chilean winemaker Jack Rabbit’s Chardonnay dropped two places to fifth in this year’s standings, despite respective increases of 2.3% and 5.9% in volume and value, its Merlot jumped up a place to fourth off the back of 12.2% and 13.5% increases. What’s more, its Sauvignon Blanc also featured among this year’s top 10.

Providing four pours in this year’s top 10 like Jack Rabbit, California’s Fetzer Coldwater Creek – sold exclusively on tap in JD Wetherspoon – saw its Pinot Grigio, White Zinfandel rosé, Chardonnay and Merlot register slight hits to both volume and value in the past 12 months.

Elsewhere, despite a drop to third in this year’s standings, it would be harsh to say the bubble has burst for popular fizz Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial, with 2019 yielding relatively flat sales.

A year in wine

According to CGA’s On Premise Measurement Data, wine sales have slipped by £146m​ – or 4.5% – in the past year, with 17% of consumers saying they are drinking less wine than they were a year ago.

What’s more, speaking to The Morning Advertiser​ (MA​) in August, Bibendum’s CEO Michael Saunders​ highlighted that the wine sector is failing to bring younger drinkers on board which could lead to a “slow motion car crash” for the category.

However, this hasn’t discouraged Heineken’s pub arm Star Pubs & Bars from launching its own wine label, with ethical Italian brand L’Evento unveiled in August​ with a range including a Prosecco DOC, a Rosé Spumante, a Pinot Grigio, Pinot Grigio Blush and a Montepulciano D’Abruzzo.

Best sellers

According to MA​’s latest Drinks List, the best-selling wines in the on-trade in 2019 were:

All data provided by CGA for the 12 months to 7 September 2019​​