Impact has revealed its annual list of “Hot Prospect” wine brands, highlighting the up-and-coming labels that are primed to become significant market players in the years ahead.
This year’s domestic wine Hot Prospects make up an impressive list of brands that are breaking through the clutter in an increasingly competitive market. The domestic Hot Prospect wines total 28 brands this year—down slightly from 30 brands a year ago. The list includes 13 returnees and 15 newcomers. California remains dominant, but Washington and Oregon are making their presence felt, with five Hot Prospect winners between them.
On the imported wine side, 13 brands earned Hot Prospect honors this year, led by Provençal rosés and sparkling wines. Four rosés from Provence were named Hot Prospects, out of a total of five French wines on the list. Four Italian labels also made the list along with two Spanish wines and one brand each from New Zealand and South Africa.
To qualify as Hot Prospects, wine brands must have posted 15% depletions growth in 2017 while also showing consistent growth in the preceding two years. Volumes must reach at least 50,000 cases but not more than 200,000 cases. New products can qualify as Hot Prospects if they pass the 50,000-case mark in their first year. There were two new products that made the list this year, 7 Moons and Gemma di Luna.
Domestic wine Hot Prospect brands above 100,000 cases in annual volume include: Bread & Butter, Freakshow, The Prisoner, OZV, Kung Fu Girl, Talbott, The Velvet Devil, Rare, Z. Alexander Brown, Orin Swift, Ava Grace, 7 Moons, Mumm Napa Brut Rosé, and Carmenet.
Imported wine winners above 70,000 cases include: Campo Viejo, Veuve de Vernay, Miraval, Jam Jar, Maschio, Alverdi, and Gemma di Luna.
Wine’s Most Inspiring People 2018: Growing Grapes, Family, and Community in Sonoma County
John and Terri Balletto planted their first vineyard in the mid-nineties on a 35 acre lot in Sebastopol (now part of the potential Sebastopol Hills AVA) where they were also building their home. Back then, they were vegetable farmers, but the hill did not have enough water to grow produce, so with the advice of family friend Warren Dutton (Dutton Ranch), they planted 20 acres of Pinot, 10 of Chardonny, and 5 of Pinot Gris.
Beverage Information Group awards 9 brands as rising stars for 2018!
Black Opal, Carmenet Winery, Cellar Four 79, Century Cellars, Colores Del Sol, Rare Earth Organic Winery, Stone Cellars, The Great American Wine Company, The Little Penguin
Building on decades of success, Carmenet extends the line & continues to reward fans. America’s wine boom, now two decades strong, is so old it’s easy to forget that the trend’s roots were decidedly French. Americans, always keen on shortcuts, equated most things French – from Chablis to Champagne, from Pouilly-Fuisse to fussy sommeliers – with quality.
Get into Oregon Wine Month this May! Join us every May in celebrating Oregon’s official state-wide month of wine tasting, wine learning and wine loving. Oregon Wine Month is an opportunity to experience the quality and diversity of Oregon wine through unique events around Oregon and beyond.
One lucky winner and guest will spend 4 days and 3 nights in the vineyards, the kitchens and the company of some of Oregon’s most acclaimed winemakers, chefs and craftspeople for an immersive celebration of Oregon’s wine and food bounty.
Three runners up will win a two-month, two-bottle membership to Cellar 503, the premier wine club for anyone who wants to explore Oregon’s small-batch wineries.
Taste Washington Wine Month in March is an annual celebration of Washington State’s award winning industry. Check out the promotions happening at participating restaurants, wine shops, winery tasting rooms, and hotels.
Women of the Vine & Spirits is a membership-based alliance that empowers and equips women worldwide to advance their careers in the alcohol beverage industry.
Women of the Vine & Spirits offers education, advocacy, training, mentorship, networking and steadfast support for women at every position in the field, particularly through the annual Women of the Vine & Spirits Global Symposium.
The Franzia Brothers Winery – the oldest in Ripon – was reopened after Prohibition when matriarch Teresa (Carrara) made a monumental decision with her sons at her side underneath a walnut tree outside their rural home. She went to the Bank of Italy in Stockton where she applied for a loan to start the family winery once again while her husband Giuseppe was away on a trip.
