Wine suppliers in the UK are urging retailers to help add value to the market in view of data showing a slowdown in off-trade wine sales, according to a new report.

Research by ACNielsen for the latest Wine Report by The Grocer's sister publication, Off Licence News (OLN), shows a trend rever­sal in the UK's wine buying habits, with white wine now in decline and red wine static [ACNielsen, year ending 22 April 2006].

Wine editor Patricia Langton said: "Given the recent slowdown in wine sales, suppliers are making even louder pleas to reduce deep discounting, raise ­prices and build value. This remains a huge challenge, and the global wine glut makes it a buyer's market."

ACNielsen's wine specialist Stewart Blunt pointed out, however, that rosé has managed to buck the trend, with sales growing at 35% a year, driven by the US.

The Top 50 Brands table in the OLN's report reflects the UK's growing attraction to rosé, through the continued strength of Californian brands Blossom Hill and Gallo Family, which remain in second and third place, with off-trade sales rises last year of 23% and 31% respectively. It ranks rosé brand Mateus at number 35, with a 25% growth in sales, making it the only Portuguese brand in the Top 50.

The top end of the table continues to be dominated by New World brands - predominantly Australia and the US. Argentina has one brand in the Top 50 for the first time with Bottle Green's Inti at number 41.

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