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Wine Fast Track Brands
Wine Ready to drink
Wine & Spirit
GROWTH BRANDS- WINE Wine Fast Track Brands
MIGHTY VINES by MELISSA DOWLING
RISING STAR
It’ s not the best time to be selling wine: Total wine volume consumption fell 4.5 % in 2024 to 326.0 million 9−liter cases, according to the Beverage Information Group’ s 2025 Industry Overview. This marks the wine industry’ s third consecutive year of loss.
Wine’ s challenges range from people not drinking as much in general to younger consumers not embracing wine to competition from spirits, ready-to-drink( RTD) cocktails and functional beverages with CBD and THC, among other factors.
With the considerable headwinds, how have our 2025 crop of Growth Brand winners managed to grow at all? Here’ s a look at some of the trends and tactics that propelling this year’ s winning brands.
ROSÉ-COLORED GLASSES
“ Rosé continues to establish itself as a year-round category, with consumers embracing premium, high-quality options beyond just the summer months,” says Michael Misiorski, CEO at Hampton Water Co. The brand, founded in 2018 by music icon Jon Bon Jovi and his son Jesse Bongiovi, with French winemaker Gérard Bertrand, won a Fast Track award this year.
“ The French rosé category is consolidating around trusted, quality brands, and Hampton Water is at the forefront of that shift,” Misiorski says.“ We’ re proud to be the fastest-growing French rosé brand in the $ 16 to $ 25 price tier, outpacing both key competitors and the category.”
The brand focused heavily on retail partnerships, engaging in high-visibility displays, strategic pricing promotions and digital marketing efforts that kept Hampton Water top of mind, says Misiorski.
“ We expanded our footprint in restaurants, bars and hospitality venues by working closely with key accounts to feature Hampton Water in wine-by-the-glass programs, curated food pairings and experiential events. By making sure Hampton Water was part of the right social moments, we drove trial and repeat purchases.”
Another French rosé, The Pale, took a Rising Star award. Sacha Lichine, creator of the rosé brand Whispering Angel, launched The Pale in 2021; it grew 10 % in 2024 to reach 50,000 nine-liter cases.
SPARKLERS STAY STRONG
Several sparkling wine brands earned Growth Brands Awards this year, including Rising Star Avissi prosecco and Established Growth brands LaMarca and Mionetto. Spanish sparkler Opera Prime won a Comeback Brand.
“ Gone are the days when sparkling wine was reserved for toasts and special occasions,” says Gary Clayton, marketing director for prosecco brand Valdo, which won two Rising Star awards.“ Americans are embracing bubbles as an everyday indulgence, and Italian sparkling wines— especially prosecco— are leading the charge,” he says.
As the U. S. food scene continues to evolve, prosecco’ s versatility makes it the perfect pairing for today’ s diverse flavors, Clayton says. Still,“ bringing new ideas and methods to the sparkling wine category is a critical component to our success today and in the future.”
The sparkling wine experience is not one dimensional, he notes, but requires different expressions for different occasions:“ a more refined taste profile for those more serious occasions; a brighter, lighter taste profile for those afternoon lounging occasions. Valdo brings to the consumer a portfolio of Italian sparkling wines to meet every occasion and need.”
A growing number of customers have rallied behind National Prosecco Week in June, says Skyler Jones, senior
RISING STAR
www. stateways. com Summer 2025 • StateWays 33