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
