Overall wine sales are up 5 percent in the 52 weeks ending March 7, 2009 while case volume sales are also slightly up, rising 2.5 percent. Overall wine sales in the 13 weeks ending March 7 gained 5.4 percent over the same period in The Nielsen Company-tracked supermarket channel March figures.

Year-on-year, domestic sales increased 6.2 percent, and imported wine grew 2.3 percent in the 52 weeks ending March 7. Domestic wine sales gained 6.9 percent while imports rose 2 percent in the 13 weeks ending March 7 versus the same time period in 2008.

Year-on-year, domestic volume has increased 3.6 percent, and imported volume fell 1 percent. In terms of case volume, domestic wines grew by 4.7 percent, and imported wines fell 1.9 percent in the 13 weeks ending March 7.

Chardonnay remains the top-selling varietal by far, with a 20.4 percent market share in sales and 19.5 percent share in volume. Year-on-year, Char­donnay sales have increased 4.1 percent while case volume increased 4.6 percent. In the 13 weeks ending March 7, Chardonnay sales rose 4.9 percent in sales and 6.1 percent in case volume.

Other white wines are also showing strong growth. Pinot Grigio/Gris sales have grown 8.4 percent in the 13 weeks ending March 7 while case sales have increased 7.7 percent. Sauvignon Blanc has grown 10.7 percent by dollar sales and 5.7 percent by case volume in the 13 weeks ending March 7. Riesling grew 8.8 percent in dollar sales and 7 percent in case volume in the 13 weeks ending March 7.

Cabernet Sauvignon, the flagship red, increased in sales by 8.5 percent and in case volume by 11.2 percent in the 13 weeks ending mid-March. Cabernet Sauvignon represents about 15.6 percent of all wine dollar sales and 12.4 percent of case volume, making Cabernet the second-largest wine varietal on the market.

Merlot rose slightly in sales by 1.5 percent versus the same time period last year while case volume rose by 4.3 percent in the 13 weeks ending March 7 versus the same time period in 2008. Merlot, the third-largest wine varietal in the market, holds an 11.3 percent market share in dollar and 11.5 percent share in case volume. wbm