Craft beer hurting wine industry
By Mark Anderson, Sacramento Business Journal
Wine-industry experts gathering in Sacramento on Wednesday said wine sales have been hurt by the growing popularity of craft beer, ciders and even mixed drinks.
A panel of industry leaders at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium said the vintners face a number of challenges. One is that the casual drinker’s choice for an everyday beverage is increasingly beer.
Sales of inexpensive table wine — bottles under $7 — fell in 2014. Sales of premium wine grew — but the everyday wines are the foundation of the wine market, and those are the wines people start with before they eventually buy premium wines.
