Click to view this email in a browser http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/159616/d4ef376c01/203002103/a82da01a85/ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Kristen Hager 212-695-4660, ext. 17 khager@wineandspiritsmagazine.com WINE & SPIRITS MAGAZINE PUBLISHES 20TH ANNUAL RESTAURANT WINE POLL Data suggests that fine wine sales remain essentially sound. Diners facing recession consider wine part of the meal rather than an add-on. (New York, NY, February 26, 2009): Wine & Spirits magazine releases the results of its 20th Annual Restaurant Poll today, reporting on the most popular wines in America’s top restaurants for the fourth quarter of 2008. This year’s exclusive Restaurant Poll report appears in Wine & Spirits’ April issue, which is on sale at newsstands and bookstores March 10. The Poll delineates the popularity and prices of wines by brand, variety and country of origin as reported by sommeliers representing Zagat Survey’s leading restaurants across the US. This year, 37.8 percent of restaurateurs report a decrease in wine sales amidst the recession, while 62.1 percent claim sales have either stayed the same or increased. Maximilian Kast at The Fearrington House in North Carolina characterizes the situation at many of the country’s top dining rooms: “Sales are down; we’re slower than we used to be. Per person, though, people are drinking the same amount of wine and spending less.” Italy maintains its position in last year’s Poll, garnering the largest share of the most popular wines for any country outside the US (17.4 percent). As Italy’s share percentage climbs, US wines represent a smaller portion of the most popular wines, the lowest in 20 years at 53.6 percent, down from 55.7 percent in 2007 and 65.5 percent in 2001, the last year the US share was above 60 percent. Pinot noir emerged as the most popular variety in the Poll for the first time, with a 15 percent share of the most popular wines, besting cabernet sauvignon’s 14.7 percent. Cabernet sauvignon remains significantly more expensive at an average price of $86.36 compared to $68.93 for the most popular pinot noirs. Malbec pulled Argentina into the lead for New World wines (outside of the US). Argentina rose to a 2.4 percent share of the most popular wines, a performance that is predominantly attributable to malbec (2.1 percent of the most popular wines). The Poll includes “The Restaurant Top 50,” the brands that receive the most mentions from participating restaurants. Publisher and Editor Joshua Greene comments, “Twenty years ago, Sonoma-Cutrer, Robert Mondavi and Jordan led the most popular wine brands. They remain at or near the top of the list, joined by leaders from Champagne (Veuve Clicquot at #7) and Washington State (Chateau Ste. Michelle at #8). It’s the most diverse Top 50 list yet, with strong showings by pinot noir specialists (Merry Edwards at #15 and Flowers at #16), Italians (Santa Margherita at #12 and Ruffino at #18) and brands from New Zealand, Sancerre, Burgundy and Rioja.” 2008’s Top Ten Most Popular Restaurant Brands: 1. Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards 2. Cakebread Cellars 3. Jordan Vineyard & Winery 4. Silver Oak Wine Cellars 5. Ferrari-Carano Winery 6. Robert Mondavi Winery 7. Veuve Clicquot 8. Chateau Ste. Michelle 9. Rombauer Vineyards 10. Kendall-Jackson Vineyards Copies of Wine & Spirits’ April 2009 issue featuring the Poll results are available by mail for $7, including postage and handling. Members of the press interested in receiving the publication or scheduling an interview with Joshua Greene should contact Kristen Hager at 212-695-4660, x17, or email khager@wineandspiritsmagazine.com. The press may call or email Wine & Spirits at the above address for a password to acquire access to the online results. Founded in 1982, Wine & Spirits is published eight times a year and read by over 200,000 members of America’s wine community. Consumers and wine professionals read the magazine for information on wine and spirits, including articles on established and up-and-coming regions and producers, the art and science of viticulture, restaurant and industry happenings and food and wine pairing. Wine & Spirits, the only American wine publication to win the James Beard award five times for excellence in wine writing, evaluates more than 9,000 bottlings every year. ______________________________________________________________________ If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line or simply click on the following link: http://cts.vresp.com/u?d4ef376c01/a82da01a85/ ______________________________________________________________________ This message was sent by Wine & Spirits Magazine using VerticalResponse Wine & Spirits Magazine Wine & Spirits Magazine 2 West 32 Street, Suite 601 New York, New York 10001 Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy: http://www.verticalresponse.com/content/pm_policy.html