San Rafael, Calif.—Retail wine sales always drop from December to January, but domestic table wine sales rose higher than in any other January in at least five years. They gained 6% in dollars at major food and drug stores through Jan. 22, according to Symphony IRI, the Chicago-based market research firm. For the 52 weeks ending Jan. 22, domestic table wine sales grew 7%, however.

Looking more closely at sales volume in cases, domestic wines grew 5% in volume over 52 weeks but slowed to a 3% volume gain in the most recent four weeks compared to a year ago. The higher priced tiers, however—those retailing at $11 per bottle and up—celebrated a great January in terms of volume sales, selling 631,000 9-liter case equivalents, an increase of 16% over January 2011.
Imports lose market share
Domestic wines gained slightly in market share during the six months between July 2011 and January 2012. The new pie chart shows the dollar share of domestic wines at 79% and imports with 21%, a shift of 1%. This continues a gradual trend away from imports by shoppers at big stores.

Australia garnered the largest share of import wine sales in the check stand scan data analyzed by SIRI. With 7% of the dollar sales over 52 weeks, Australia led second-place importer Italy with 6%, even though Aussie wine sales have been slowing. Argentina came in third and led Chile, France and New Zealand in 52-week market share measured in dollars. Argentine wines were really hot in 2011, growing by 28% in revenue.

One segment growing fast
About the only thing hotter than wines from Argentina were domestic table wines priced at $20 and up, the highest segment that SIRI breaks out monthly. These have been growing fast for several years and kept up the pace with 29% dollar growth over the most recent 52 weeks.

Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay remained the biggest selling varietals in combined domestic and import wine sales for price segments $11 and above. Cabernet grew at double-digit rates in all three segments from $11 up. Riesling and Syrah/Shiraz were the only varietals in this range to drop in dollar sales by more than 2% in one or more price segment.