MODESTO, Calif., Dec. 8, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether it's relaxing at home, dining out at a restaurant or celebrating with friends and family, Americans are enjoying wine at a wider variety of occasions than ever before. The 2015 Gallo Consumer Wine Trends Survey, commissioned by E. & J. Gallo Winery, found that 85 percent of frequent wine drinkers now believe that wine is appropriate for casual and formal settings alike. The survey of 1,000 frequent wine drinkers between the ages of 21 and 64 is a follow-up to the 2014 survey of the same name, which aims to capture the current state of American wine drinking attitudes and behaviors.
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"By going beyond the findings of last year's inaugural Gallo Consumer Wine Trends Survey, we are developing a more complete and robust profile of wine drinkers in the United States," said Vice President of Marketing and third-generation family member Stephanie Gallo. "At E. & J. Gallo Winery, we produce unique offerings that cater to Americans' evolving wine preferences at the dinner table, in their backyard and everywhere in between." E. & J. Gallo Winery is the world's largest family-owned winery.
The survey found that even while Americans are bringing wine into a growing number of occasions, frequent wine drinkers still stick to what they know. When presented with a list of 40 well-known wine brands across a range of price levels, respondents indicated that they purchased an average of 3.2 brands on a regular basis. However, Americans showed overall interest in a diverse range of wine styles, packaging formats and sizes and also shed light on their perceptions of wine and wine culture.
THE MILLENNIAL VERSUS BABY BOOMER EXPERIENCE
An overwhelming 82 percent of all frequent wine consumers enjoy between one and five glasses per week; however, their experience varies significantly by demographic. Millennials are twice as likely to enjoy wine when socializing with friends (22 percent versus 11 percent), whereas baby boomers are fifty percent more likely to reach for wine during a family meal (33 percent versus 22 percent). Millennials are also four times more likely to often select a wine based on its label, more frequently looking for personality and originality. Baby boomers, by contrast, often look to the label for information such as region of origin and product details.
WINE TRIBES
When asked to classify themselves as a type of wine consumer, 35 percent of survey respondents chose "wine adventurer," indicating a desire to explore options and to have new experiences with wine. Millennials were more likely to categorize themselves as "wine novices" (30 percent), while baby boomers often considered themselves "wine traditionalists" (27 percent) or "wine brand loyalists" (13 percent). Interestingly, only 3 percent of total respondents self-identified as "wine snobs," making the case that most wine drinkers aspire to enjoy wine on their own terms rather than following a prescriptive set of traditional cultural rules.
WINE FEARS ARE MINIMAL
A new area of interest explored in the 2015 survey was common fears among wine drinkers. Overall, frequent wine consumers didn't claim to have many concerns; however, four in ten were frightened by the prospect of mispronouncing a wine's name. Millennials reported a greater level of "wine fear" overall than older drinkers, stating that:
However, 42 percent of all survey respondents acknowledged that wine is becoming less formal. By continuing to remove these barriers from the category, the wine industry will welcome new friends and continue its expansion into everyday occasions.
ROSE ANY DAY
Almost twice as likely to purchase rose in comparison to baby boomers, millennials are clearly driving purchasing trends for blush wines. Interest among rose drinkers noticeably swells as early as April (42 percent), peaks in June, July and August (ranging from 70 to 75 percent) and holds strong through September (52 percent). This growing passion for rose beyond the summer season is indicative of millennials' interest in a more diverse selection of wine overall.
PORTABLE PACKAGING
Portability and convenience were notable points of differentiation for a variety of alternative packaging options. In fact, 37 percent of survey respondents identified boxed wine as a convenient option and 54 percent would be open to using casual boxed wine as their "go-to" in the refrigerator. Similarly, 32 percent of consumers recognized wine in a can as being portable and perfect for picnic or cookout scenarios in which bringing a bottle of wine would be inconvenient. Among fans of alternative packaging, outdoor events remained the primary occasion for the use of these products, which include 187ml bottles (42 percent), tetra packs (43 percent) and cans (60 percent).
The 2015 Gallo Consumer Wine Trends Survey was conducted by Libran Research & Consulting (www.LibranResearch.com) among 1,000 nationally representative U.S. wine-drinking1 adults ranging in age from 21 to 64. Participants were recruited via a national online panel between the dates of September 2nd and September 4th, 2015. More information about E. &. J. Gallo Winery can be found at www.Gallo.com and additional findings from the 2015 Gallo Consumer Wine Trends Survey are available at www.GalloWineTrends.com.
About E. & J. Gallo Winery
Founded by brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo in 1933 in Modesto, California, E. & J. Gallo Winery is the world's largest family-owned winery and the acclaimed producer of award-winning wines and spirits featured in more than 90 countries around the globe. A pioneer in the art of grape growing, winemaking, sustainable practices, marketing and worldwide distribution, Gallo crafts and imports wines and spirits to suit a diverse range of tastes and occasions, from everyday offerings to boutique, luxury bottlings.
The Gallo portfolio is comprised of more than 80 unique brands, including Barefoot Cellars, Dark Horse, and Gallo Family Vineyards, as well as premium box wines The Naked Grape and Vin Vault. Premium offerings include Apothic, Carnivor, Columbia Winery, Ecco Domani, Edna Valley Vineyard, J Vineyards & Winery, Louis M. Martini, MacMurray Estate Vineyards, Mirassou, Souverain, Talbott Vineyards, and William Hill Estate, along with highly regarded imports, such as Alamos, Brancaia, La Marca, Las Rocas, Martin Codax, Whitehaven, and LUX Wines, importers of Allegrini and Pieropan. Gallo's spirits portfolio includes New Amsterdam Vodka and Gin and E&J Brandy. ©2015, E. & J. Gallo Winery, Modesto, CA. All rights reserved.
1 Wine-drinking adults are defined as those who drink wine on more than one occasion per month and at least one glass of wine per week.
SOURCE E. & J. Gallo Winery
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