U.S. Wine Sales and Winery Jobs Up in 2013

(Wines&Vines) - Data from December wine sales and winery job listings confirmed that 2013 was a year of growth for the domestic wine industry. The Wine Industry Metrics recorded by Wines Vines Analytics were all in the green for December as well as the 2013 calendar year. Domestic wine sales enjoyed 7% gains in both the off-premise and direct-to-consumer channels. More dramatic was the 27% growth in the Winery Job Index, reflecting a growing and confident U.S. wine industry.

Direct shipments reach new high

The value of direct-to-consumer shipments from U.S. wineries reached $1.58 billion in 2013, the highest annual level since at least 2010, when this metric was created with the Wines & Vines/ShipCompliant model. Sales in December alone grew to $145 million.

DtC shipments typically peak in October or November each year, then fall in December. December 2013 kept to this pattern, yet sales grew 14% over the previous December. Volume rose even faster, up 23% to 366,929 case equivalents.

DtC shipments also stepped up on a yearly basis, continuing a steady climb since 2010. Dollar sales were up 7%, to $1.58 billion, while volume rose by 9% to 3.48 million 9-liter case equivalents. The average bottle price dipped slightly, from $38.42 in 2012 to $37.78 in 2013.

Off-premise sales grow by 7%

Off-premise sales of domestic wine grew by 7% in 2013, according to IRI, as sales reached an all-time high of $7.34 billion at the stores IRI monitors. Volume in domestic table wine grew 3% to 98 million cases, while volume in domestic sparkling wine grew 7% to 3 million cases.