The UK premium on-trade - a snapshot

• Wine sales in the UK’s premium on-trade are outperforming the overall market
• Premium on-trade sales in the UK have grown or held firm in each of the last five years, while sales outside the premium sector have been in consistent decline  
• At the same time the average spend per bottle increased by 9% per year between 2015 and 2018 in the premium on-trade  
• Last year the premium share of the total UK on-trade still wine market increased, up from 10% volume to 11%, and from 14% in value to 15%
• Still wine volume sales dipped by 4% in value the premium on trade in 2018, contrasting with a 8% decline outside the sector  
• Sparkling wine and Champagne have seen combined growth of 17% in volume and 7% in value last year, an improvement on the 6% volume growth and 7% value growth seen in 2017  
• Sauvignon Blanc accounted for 26% of wine sales in the premium on-trade, compared to 21% in 2014  
• Pinot Grigio also accounted for 26% of wine sales in the sector, up from 25% in 2014
• The value of Pinot Grigio oustripped volume growth - +13% value, +11% volume
• Chardonnay has a 17% share of the market, down from 20% five years ago 
• Outside the premium on- trade, Sauvignon Blanc accounts for 25% of sales, Pinot Grigio 26% and Chardonnay 22%
• In red wine, Malbec accounts for 19% of sales in the premium on-trade, 32% elsewhere  
• Pinot Noir takes 12% of premium on trade sales, but only 9% outside this sector  
• Tempranillo accounts for 10% of wine sales in the premium on-trade and 9% outside the sector  
• Cabernet Sauvignon makes up 8% of premium on-trade sales, and 9% outside premium
• Other wines account for 24% of the red wine sales in the premium on-trade, and these include grapes such as Barbera, Gamay, Nebbioo, Nero d’Avola, Pinotage, and Primitivo 
• The key contributor to premium on-trade sparkling wine sales growth has been Prosecco, which has rocketed by 51% in value
• 25% of premium wine drinkers say they are actively looking for organic or biodynamic wines 
• Red wine from France is drunk three times more often in the premium on-trade than elsewhere   
• Almost half of premium wine drinkers drink Portuguese reds, versus 30% of non premium drinkers
• Over a third of rose wine (34%) drunk in the premium on-trade derives from France, compared to only 16% outside the premium sector, with 41% originating in Italy
• The bulk - 37% - of rose drunk outside the premium sector comes from the US  

Source: The 2019 Liberty Wines Premium On-Trade Wine Report, in partnership with CGA.