Why Prosecco Is Still a Great Buy, Even as Other Wines’ Prices Spike Read: bit.ly/4mXEKbW Prosecco’s popularity is no bubble. For years, sales of this Italian sparkling wine have trended upward, though its price has barely risen. Here, the bottles to buy now, before looming tariffs change the game. If a wine popularity contest were held, I’m convinced that Prosecco would win. According to the SipSource 2025 Q2 Report from the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, even as overall wine sales volume dropped 7.2% compared to the previous 12-month period, sales of this Italian sparkling wine actually improved by more than 2%. And the Consorzio di Tutela Prosecco DOC reports that Prosecco exports to the U.S. nearly tripled over the last 10 years. Why does everyone love Prosecco so much? Prosecco Pros I have a few theories as to why producers of Prosecco are flourishing while others are flailing—and how that means great value for wine lovers (if they choose the right bottles). Good Branding: To start with, the name is easy to pronounce. And though Prosecco is produced in a variety of regions and subregions in northeast Italy, the greatest number of wines are gathered under one simple Prosecco DOC (denominazione di origine controllata). Even higher-caliber Proseccos with more specific designations are still known to most drinkers as simply Prosecco. A Very Nice Price: While some of those more-serious wines can cost as much as Champagne, everyday Proseccos remain very reasonably priced. “You can’t underestimate the importance of affordability,” said Rocco Lombardo, president of Wilson Daniels, a New York-based import and marketing company that has seen strong Prosecco sales. Even as the prices of other wines have risen recently—sometimes substantially—Prosecco prices have remained remarkably stable. The Proseccos I tasted for this column weren’t much more expensive than those I bought for my last deep dive into the category, over four years ago; some cost even less. It’s good news for drinkers, at least for now. The pending 15% tariff on wines from the E.U. may change that. Still, Prosecco’s affordability doesn’t make it read “cheap” to most drinkers (save for a small subset of wine snobs that includes some of my friends). Prosecco manages to be both affordable and accessible without entirely losing its chic—unlike my beloved Cava, the sparkling wine of Spain. Even the cheap Proseccos haven’t dimmed the shine of the better, more complex wines produced in the more prestigious zones. Accessible Luxury: Historically, Champagne’s relatively high price has made it a stretch for many, a special-occasion wine. This has changed somewhat—Champagne is now consumed more frequently stateside than it once was—but Prosecco remains the more likely sparkling wine of choice for an ordinary occasion or a Tuesday night. Low Alcohol: Prosecco’s ABV is usually around 11%, a good 2 or 3 percentage points lower than most table wines and commonly lower than Champagne. And low-alcohol wines are very much sought after these days. The Spritz Factor: Prosecco has attracted yet more fans thanks to its co-starring role as part of an Aperol spritz, the internationally popular Italian cocktail combining bittersweet Aperol liqueur, seltzer and Prosecco. I know plenty of people who wouldn’t typically sip Prosecco alone but are perfectly happy to drink it in an Aperol spritz. The Bottles to Buy Now When I went shopping for Prosecco a few weeks ago, I knew I wanted to explore the range of options available now—including Prosecco rosé, which I reviewed four years ago. It seems not much has changed in pink Prosecco since then. “It’s not turning at the same rate” as other Proseccos, said Lombardo. That’s in keeping, he added, with a stagnation in rosé wine sales overall (also noted in the SipSource report). Indeed, I found some of the very same vintages of pink Prosecco I reviewed back in 2021 still on the shelves. The 2023 Bisol 1542 Jeio Brut Prosecco Rosé DOC ($23, below left), on the other hand, appears to be moving quite briskly, and I can see why. This blend of Glera and Pinot Nero was fresh and crisp, bursting with ripe red berry flavors—the best pink Prosecco of my tasting by far. Bisol 1542 has long produced some of my favorite Proseccos. In the non-pink category, the Bisol 1542 Jeio Brut Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG ($18, below right) was another pleasure, bright, brisk, almost savory, with a saline finish and a slightly tropical note. Another perennial favorite, the Nino Franco Rustico Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG ($20, below left) is a remarkably consistent wine that I’ve enjoyed for many years. Nino Franco is one of the older Prosecco estates, founded over 100 years ago; in the name of this wine, “Rustico” is a nod to an old Prosecco winemaking technique. The very appealing, zesty and dry Luca Grucci Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG ($14, below right) is produced by a long-established, family-owned winery. In 2022 the brand was sold to Argea, a wine company with holdings all over Italy. I was relieved to find that the quality of the wine has not suffered; though it’s under new ownership, it continues to be produced by the same winery. This remains a standout, at an excellent price. Among the more commercial brands I tried, the Mionetto Prosecco Treviso Brut ($15, below left) sports an orange label that recalls that of Veuve Clicquot Champagne, but this bottling has a light, fruity style all its own, and its aromas of spice and tart green apple make it an appealing aperitif. Labeled in blue, La Marca Prosecco ($16, below right) is another mass-market brand, owned by E. & J. Gallo. Produced by a cooperative of some 5,000 grape growers in the Veneto, this Prosecco is a softer, slightly sweeter style, ideal as a component in an Aperol spritz. My Prosecco tasting did not prove an unmitigated delight. Quite a few bottles disappointed—as in, they tasted like canned fruit cocktail, or were so fizzy and light that it seemed as if I was drinking seltzer. And price wasn’t necessarily a quality guide: One of the least exciting wines was also one of the priciest. On the whole, however, it was gratifying to find that the Prosecco shelf at the wine store still yields some great values. Will sales continue to climb—or will this shining star of a sparkler eventually dim? The looming threat of tariffs makes the answer seem uncertain at best. Perhaps the best advice I can offer is the most obvious: Keep buying good Prosecco while the (good) buying lasts.

📊 SipSource Insights: Tough summer for alcohol depletion! July 2025: Spirits ↓4.9% volume, ↓4.6% revenue. Wine ↓8.8% volume, ↓6.9% revenue. Watch out as we approach Q4—inflation vs. innovation may shape the future! wswa.org/news/sipsource-data… #SipSource #WineandSpirits

Cheers to National Tequila Day! According to #SipSource, Reposado is leading the charge in the category — up 16.7% in volume and 20.1% in revenue over the past year. Enjoy today responsibly! #NationalTequilaDay #ReposadoRising #SpiritsTrends2025

📊 April data shows signs of stability for beverage alcohol. 🥃Spirits: -1.8% vol | -0.9% rev 🍷Wine: -3.3% vol | -2.7% rev 🔗Get the key insights from SipSource’s April Data Insights:wswa.org/news/data-insights-… #SipSource #alcoholtrends #spirits #wine

Hi friend 👋🏼 This week we're covering everything from sacred artifacts causing international uproar to how investor sentiment is driving modern markets. Plus, crypto’s not-so-quiet infiltration of Wall Street. The Weekly Fun Fact 🤔 A sacred stir in the art world: a 334-piece jewel collection linked to Buddha’s remains is set to be auctioned at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, stirring outrage across India and Buddhist communities. Known as the Piprahwa Gems of the Historical Buddha, these relics have been held privately since their discovery in 1898. Now, with estimates hitting $12.9 million, critics argue their sale violates religious and cultural sanctity. The Indian government has even issued a formal plea to halt the auction, citing laws that prohibit selling such antiques. Onto this week’s topics🚦 🔴 Wine & Spirits Market Stumbles Hard 🍷 The US wine and spirits industry is off to a rocky start in 2025. According to SipSource, spirits volumes dropped 6.3% and wine fell nearly 10% in Q1. Economic uncertainty, inflation, and shifting tastes, especially among younger consumers, are weighing heavily on sales. Premium brands are holding ground, but the broader picture shows a market in decline. LVMH’s Moët Hennessy saw a 9% dip, underlining the sector's volatility. 🟡 Markets Dance to Reflexivity's Tune 🔄 The theory of reflexivity, where market sentiment creates self-fulfilling outcomes, is playing out in real time. When investors panicked, prices fell. When they stopped panicking, prices jumped. This year’s 22% rally came not from new fundamentals, but from shifting psychology. Economists were convinced recession was inevitable. It didn’t happen. The takeaway: crowd consensus is often the best reason to take the opposite bet. 🟢 Crypto’s Infiltration of Wall Street Continues 🚀 In just 24 hours, Coinbase joined the S&P 500, Microstrategy bought another 13,000 Bitcoin, and a new treasury startup raised $700 million. Wall Street players like BlackRock and Fidelity aren’t resisting crypto — they’re profiting from it. This isn't about crypto disrupting finance, it's about absorbing it. The only ones losing are those still waiting on the sidelines.

March-ending SipSource data and analysts highlighted that spirits volume dropped 6.3% and revenue fell 5.1% in Q1 2025. #BeverageNews #Q1 #Spirits #Wine brnw.ch/21wSyB3

📊 Despite Ongoing Market Challenges, SipSource Data and Analysts Deliver Industry-Leading Forecast Accuracy at 99% Read More: wswa.org/news/spirits-and-wi…

🚨 Proposed 200% Tariffs on EU Wine & Spirits Threaten U.S. Businesses and Consumers 🍷🥃Did you know? Imported wine and spirits make up 30% of the U.S. marketplace by volume and 35% by revenue according to WSWA’s SipSource. Read More: wswa.org/news/proposed-200-t…

🚨📊#SipSource Releases 2024 Year-End Report ‼️"One of the most striking findings in the report is the continued expansion of the spirit-based premixed cocktail category." Read More: wswa.org/news/wswas-sipsourc…

🎯Unmatched Accuracy, Unrivaled Insights—SipSource Delivers! The SipSource 2024 forecast achieved 94% accuracy for All Core Spirits (excluding RTDs) and over 80% accuracy across all eight class-level forecasts! 🔗 Read more: prnewswire.com/news-releases… #SipSource #DataDriven

Only $CANA "Indeed, as sales of wine dropped about 8% year over year in 2024 according to the latest numbers from Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America’s SipSource. In comparison, cannabis is in a growth phase and is targeted to hit revenues of US$45 billion this year."

As sales of wine dropped about 8% year over year in 2024 according to the latest numbers from Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America’s SipSource. In comparison, cannabis is in a growth phase and is targeted to hit revenues of US$45 billion this year.

"Could cannabis sales cannibalise wine?" "While exact statistics aren’t available, it’s clear that an ever-increasing number of Americans are replacing their alcohol with cannabis." "Indeed, as sales of wine dropped about 8% year over year in 2024 according to the latest numbers from Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America’s SipSource. In comparison, cannabis is in a growth phase and is targeted to hit revenues of US$45 billion this year." “But they’ve [bars, stores and restaurants] all told me that the cannabis drinks are huge money makers for them,” Jong says. “The demand is there, and they have said the push back they anticipated never arrived.” @TheDalesReport @V_arrell @TheDankInformer Link below 👇

The losses keep stacking up for the U.S. wine industry. Wine sales in the U.S. last year tumbled approximately 6% from 2023, according to data from the industry data group SipSource. on.nbc7.com/wkXoeaf

Wine sales in the U.S. last year tumbled about 6% from 2023, according to data from the industry data group SipSource, in a trend that some are calling an “existential threat” to the industry. nbcbay.com/rqv8YLq

Wine sales in the U.S. last year tumbled approximately 6% from 2023, according to data from the industry data group SipSource. on.nbc7.com/VFUkBwh

📊WSWA's SipSource releases November 2024 data insights focusing on the dining channel. wswa.org/news/november-data-…

Crecimiento en las ventas de vinos blancos en Estados Unidos Los datos de SipSource indican un cambio de preferencias en el mercado estadounidense del vino. vinetur.com/2024121983714/wh…

Some data points: • Of the 12 major categories in wine as measured by Sipsource, 3 of 5 white categories show growth while all 6 red categories show declines • Traditional red wine regions from the Rhone to Australia to Piedmont are encouraging planting more white grapes 2/

El mercado del vino en EE.UU. muestra una preocupante situación Las cifras de IWSR y SipSource muestran una contracción del -4% en el volumen de ventas de vino. vinetur.com/2024111482973/co…