Drizly Sees Demand for Sauvignon Blanc to Keep Growing

Lately, Sauvignon Blanc has been stealing the spotlight from Chardonnay, Drizly says.  California vintners are reporting a boom in demand for Sauvignon Blanc and many are scrambling to source more fruit from the state’s top-growing regions. At the same time, wine buyers are seeing a shortage of Sancerre due to challenging weather conditions in France, and countries such as New Zealand and Chile are stepping in to fill the gap.

Sauvignon Blanc is the top-selling white varietal wine on Drizly — a position it has held since the platform’s launch in 2013. During the last 12 months, the wine gained one percentage point to reach 40 percent share of the white wine category.

Liz Paquette, the head of consumer insights at Drizly, attributes growing consumer interest in the wine to its fresh flavor profile and affordable price point. “Sauvignon Blanc does have a slightly lower average price per unit than Chardonnay, the second-best selling white wine category on Drizly,” she says. The average unit price for Sauvignon Blanc is $16.23 compared to $17.31 for Chardonnay.

NielsenIQ (NIQ) sales data also tells the story of Sauvignon Blanc’s popularity. During the 52 weeks ending April 15, 2023, off-premise dollar sales increased 5% while sales for the overall wine category dipped 2%. Likewise, unit sales for Sauvignon Blanc grew 1.5% during the same period, compared to a 5% decline for the larger wine category.

Drizly’s 10 Best-Selling Sauvignon Blanc SKUs

1. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
2. Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc
3. Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc
4. Matua Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
5. Bota Box Sauvignon Blanc
6. Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc
7. Starborough Sauvignon Blanc
8. Josh Cellars Sauvignon Blanc
9. Decoy Sauvignon Blanc
10. Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc

The Nobilo brand from New Zealand entered the top 10 in this year’s ranking, replacing California’s Cupcake Vineyards. Whitehaven, Cloudy Bay, and Nobilo all saw year-over-year share gains.

Ranked by country of origin, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc holds the No. 1 position on Drizly with 63% share — a 2% gain over the previous year. The United States follows as the second-biggest seller of Sauvignon Blanc on Drizly at 27% share, flat from the previous year. France’s share declined one percentage point to 8%.

“The average unit price for Sauvignon Blanc wines from New Zealand is the lowest of the top three producing countries,” Paquette notes. “This is potentially a factor in driving its appeal.” The average unit price for New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is $15.46 compared to $16.90 for U.S. wines and $25.57 for French wines.

In NIQ-tracked off-premise channels, New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc ranked highest in dollar sales in the 52 weeks ending April 15, gaining nearly 5%. Wines from the United States followed with a 4% increase in dollar sales. Chile ranked third, gaining 10% over the previous year. Unit sales remained flat for both New Zealand and the U.S., while Chile unit sales increased nine percent.

Among the best-selling domestic producers on Drizly during the last 12 months, California took all of the top 10 positions.

Drizly’s 10 Best-Selling Domestic Sauvignon Blanc SKUs

1. Bota Box Sauvignon Blanc
2. Josh Cellars Sauvignon Blanc
3. Decoy Sauvignon Blanc
4. Duckhorn Vineyards North Coast Sauvignon Blanc
5. Black Box Sauvignon Blanc
6. Joel Gott Sauvignon Blanc
7. Cakebread Cellars Sauvignon Blanc
8. La Crema Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc
9. Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc
10. Dark Horse Sauvignon Blanc

Pete Przybylinski, the executive vice president and chief sales officer for The Duckhorn Portfolio, notes that Decoy and Duckhorn Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc wines have ranked No. 1 in their price categories for years, according to IRI sales data, and their popularity is growing. “These last several years in particular have shown more interest in Sauvignon Blanc than at any time in the past,” he says. “Our biggest challenge has been being able to craft enough.”

Sauvignon Blanc Wines to Watch

Drizly’s 10 Fastest-Growing Sauvignon Blanc SKUs:

1. Starborough Starlite Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)
2. L’Umami Willamette Valley Organic Sauvignon Blanc (Oregon)
3. Framingham Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)
4. Echo Bay Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)
5. Pascal Jolivet Blanc-Fumé (France)
6. Fault Line Sauvignon Blanc (California)
7. Volcanes Reserva Sauvignon Blanc (Chile)
8. Hans Greyl Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand)
9. Tooth & Nail Sauvignon Blanc (California)
10. Auspicion Sauvignon Blanc (California)