Beverage Wholesaler Summer 2026 | Page 15

Lombardo Marsala wine received a Resilient Brand award this year. For this new category, brands must be at least five years old, with growth of at least 3 % and case sales of at least 40,000 9-liter cases.

“ This award reflects the dedication of our team and partners who have worked to bring Lombardo Marsala back into the spotlight,” says Lena Braswell, national brand manager at Shaw-Ross International Importers.“ By emphasizing its culinary roots and ensuring it’ s available in the right retail and specialty accounts, we’ ve been able to reconnect consumers with a product that has such rich heritage.” Here ' s more from a Q & A with her.

What led to the brand’ s increased sales this past year? Our growth was driven by a strong focus on product quality, strategic distribution expansion and listening closely to our customers. By staying aligned with market trends and continuing to invest in the brand, we were able to increase both visibility and demand.

What industry trends are most impacting the business now? Several industry trends are helping drive interest in Marsala today. One is the growing consumer focus on home cooking and gourmet recipes, where ingredients like Marsala add depth and authenticity to dishes.

We’ re also seeing renewed appreciation for traditional culinary wines, particularly those tied to classic Italian recipes. At the same time, consumers are increasingly seeking premium and authentic ingredients, which is creating new opportunities for heritage products like Marsala.

What ' s next for the brand in the year ahead? Looking ahead, our focus is continuing to build Lombardo Marsala’ s presence. By supporting menu development and culinary education, we aim to further position Lombardo Marsala as an essential ingredient.

WINE ESTABLISHED GROWTH BRANDS( 000 9-Liter cases)

Mionetto Freixenet Mionetto USA 992 1,035 4.3 % Matua Treasury Wine Estates 773 813 5.2 % SeaGlass Trinchero Family Estates 593 633 6.7 % Fre Trinchero Family Estates 439 451 2.7 %

( p) Preliminary.(++%) Greater than 100 %. * Note: All figures are early preliminary BIG estimates of US volume consumption, subject to revision.

sion of Marlborough to life— capturing a sense of sunshine, ease and freshness that resonates with today’ s sauvignon blanc drinker, particularly in spring and summer.”

ZERO-PROOF POURS

Consumers are embracing nonalcoholic products,“ not as a substitute, but as a lifestyle choice, raising expectations around quality, taste, availability and brand credibility,” says Wohld.“ As more players enter the space, brands that deliver consistently and authentically are winning.”

Trinchero’ s FRE alcohol-removed wine brand has grown thanks to its category leadership, consistent quality and strong consumer relevance, she adds.“ As non-alc interest expands, shoppers continue to gravitate toward brands they trust.”

The company has also expanded its Seaglass portfolio to meet evolving consumer needs, particularly with its alcohol-removed wines.“ These offerings allow Seaglass to participate in the fast-growing moderation space while staying true to our core of coastal refreshment and quality,” Wohld says.

Freixenet and Mionetto both won Rising Star awards this year for their alcohol-removed expressions. Mionetto in early 2025 boosted its alcohol-removed range with the introduction of Aperitivo alcohol free, says Ceola.

“ Aperitivo alcohol free was crafted to give consumers the opportunity to enjoy a zero-proof version of their favorite spritz. We also introduced an Aperitivo co-pack featuring our alcohol-removed sparkling wine and Aperitivo alcohol free so everything you need was bundled together.”

RISING STAR

WHITE STILL HOT

Crisp, aromatic white wines are undeniably a consumer favorite, Wohld says.“ Strong category tailwinds have helped Echo Bay as sauvignon blanc— particularly from New Zealand— continues to outperform within the white wine category.”

It also helps that sauvignon blanc remains one of the most listed white wine varietals on U. S. restaurant wine lists, she adds.

Oak Ridge Winery has introduced a chardonnay to the OZV portfolio,“ where we hope to leverage the brand’ s growth and recognition to capture more consumers,” Styron says.“ It is still in the trial phase with Safeway, but www. beveragewholesaler. com Summer 2026 • Bevearge Wholesaler 15