Our 2025 Wine Growth Brands Awards Winners
May 12, 2025
It’s not the best time to be selling wine: Total wine volume consumption fell 4.5% in 2024 to 326.0 million 9-liter cases, according to the Beverage Information Group’s 2025 Industry Overview. This marks the wine industry’s third consecutive year of loss.
Wine’s challenges range from people not drinking as much in general to younger consumers not embracing wine to competition from spirits, ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails and functional beverages with CBD and THC, among other factors.
With the considerable headwinds, how have our 2025 crop of Growth Brand winners managed to grow at all? Here’s a look at some of the trends and tactics that propelling this year’s winning brands.
Determining the Winners
The Beverage Information Group determined this year’s winners using the following criteria, based on brands’ projected case sales for the 2024 calendar year.
• Rising Stars are less than five years old and have grown each year of their existence, reaching at least 20,000 9-liter cases in 2024.
• Fast Track Brands are at least five years old and have exceeded 100,000 9-liter cases sold in 2024, averaging double-digit growth over the past three years.
• Established Growth Brands are top sellers in their category, at least five years old and moving a minimum of 250,000 9-liter cases in 2024. They have also shown growth in sales over each of the past three years.
• Comeback Brands are previous winners that have rebounded in sales to at least their previous level, following a recent decline.
Rosé-colored glasses
“Rosé continues to establish itself as a year-round category, with consumers embracing premium, high-quality options beyond just the summer months,” says Michael Misiorski, CEO at Hampton Water Co. The brand, founded in 2018 by music icon Jon Bon Jovi and his son Jesse Bongiovi, with French winemaker Gérard Bertrand, won a Fast Track award this year.
“The French rosé category is consolidating around trusted, quality brands, and Hampton Water is at the forefront of that shift,” Misiorski says. “We’re proud to be the fastest-growing French rosé brand in the $16 to $25 price tier, outpacing both key competitors and the category.”
The brand focused heavily on retail partnerships, engaging in high-visibility displays, strategic pricing promotions and digital marketing efforts that kept Hampton Water top of mind, says Misiorski.
“We expanded our footprint in restaurants, bars and hospitality venues by working closely with key accounts to feature Hampton Water in wine-by-the-glass programs, curated food pairings and experiential events. By making sure Hampton Water was part of the right social moments, we drove trial and repeat purchases.”
Another French rosé, The Pale, took a Rising Star award. Sacha Lichine, creator of the rosé brand Whispering Angel, launched The Pale in 2021; it grew 10% in 2024 to reach 50,000 nine-liter cases.
Sparklers stay strong
Several sparkling wine brands earned Growth Brands Awards this year, including Rising Star Avissi prosecco and Established Growth brands LaMarca and Mionetto. Spanish sparkler Opera Prime won a Comeback Brand.
“Gone are the days when sparkling wine was reserved for toasts and special occasions,” says Gary Clayton, marketing director for prosecco brand Valdo, which won two Rising Star awards. “Americans are embracing bubbles as an everyday indulgence, and Italian sparkling wines — especially prosecco — are leading the charge,” he says.
As the U.S. food scene continues to evolve, prosecco’s versatility makes it the perfect pairing for today’s diverse flavors, Clayton says. Still, “bringing new ideas and methods to the sparkling wine category is a critical component to our success today and in the future.”
The sparkling wine experience is not one dimensional, he notes, but requires different expressions for different occasions: “a more refined taste profile for those more serious occasions; a brighter, lighter taste profile for those afternoon lounging occasions. Valdo brings to the consumer a portfolio of Italian sparkling wines to meet every occasion and need.”
A growing number of customers have rallied behind National Prosecco Week in June, says Skyler Jones, senior vice president of sales for Freixenet Mionetto USA. “We’re using it as a platform to creatively engage with consumers across food and wine.”
The booming Spritz cocktail trend has also been a key driver for Mionetto, with retailers and accounts leveraging it to boost sparkling wine sales. “From an activation standpoint, we executed several high-impact market takeovers, including our first-ever Mionetto Salone event in New York, Jones says. The immersive experience celebrates the brand’s Italian essence and roots through music, lifestyle and art.
“These experiences were overwhelmingly successful in terms of consumer engagement and conversion, reinforcing our commitment to experiential marketing,” says Jones.
Better-for-you Bottles
The growing demand for alcohol-free options has been a significant tailwind for Mionetto Alcohol-Removed Sparkling, which launched nationally in 2024. “It’s quickly become a top player in the nonalcoholic/alcohol-removed sparkling category, reflecting the broader trend of mindful consumption,” says Jones.
Fre, a category leader and innovator for more than 30 years, offers a robust collection of alcohol-removed wines. The Fast Track winner launched a California pinot grigio this past fall.
Giesen 0% of New Zealand, a Fast Track brand, is scaling up its production capabilities with a high-capacity spinning cone column to meet surging global demand for non-alcoholic wines. The cutting-edge technology supports the gentle extraction of alcohol and aroma from full-strength wines, essential to safeguarding the character of Giesen 0% wines.
The new spinning cone column not only delivers long-term sustainability returns through reuse of alcohol for spirits production, operations and fuel, but also allows the Giesen team to increase production from a 1,000-liter to a 10,000-liter column while ensuring high quality standards.
In addition to low- or no-alcohol, more consumers seek wines with fewer calories and less sugar. That trend helped the lower-alcohol Matua Lighter, launched four years ago by Treasury Wine Estates, win a Rising Star award this year. (Matua’s core wine won a Comeback Brand as well.) Bota Box Breeze, the line of boxed wines that’s lower in calories, carbohydrates and alcohol, also took a Rising Star.
Avaline, an organic, transparent and vegan-friendly wine brand launched in 2020 by Cameron Diaz and Katherine Power, is another Rising Star. “We’re seeing strong momentum in a trend we helped pioneer — consumers seeking wines they can trust to be organic, free from added sugar and transparently labeled,” says Matt Szura, Avaline’s senior vice president of sales.
“Shoppers increasingly prioritize clean ingredients, affordability and clarity in what they’re drinking,” Szura notes. “Additionally, our easy-to-understand labeling and widespread availability in grocery and mass-market retailers make Avaline a trusted, accessible choice, offering great value at or around $20.
Hampton Water this past fall introduced Hampton Water Bubbly, a sparkling rosé that contains fewer than five grams of sugar per liter, which is less than half the amount of leading sparkling wine brands, says Misiorski. “We’re seeing a real trend in the desire for less sugar in alcohol, or at least transparency around what’s included in what people are consuming, so we’re happy to be able to meet that desire.”
Cocktail Cred
Cocktails are also part of the Hampton Water brand’s plan. “We’ve embraced the growing popularity of low-ABV cocktails with signature serves like the Bubbly Spritz and Spicy Strawberry Rosé Smash, introducing new consumers to Hampton Water in a fresh, exciting way,” Misiorski notes.
“By showcasing our wines as versatile ingredients for high-quality cocktails, we’ve expanded beyond traditional wine consumption, driving trial and repeat purchases while strengthening our presence in on-premise accounts.”
Valdo in 2024 grew its presence in the on-premise sector by embracing the cocktail culture — from classic Mimosas to Aperol Spritzes and beyond, Clayton says. “As more consumers seek innovative and refreshing drinks, Italian sparkling wines have become the foundation of some of the most popular cocktails, bringing a touch of effervescence to every pour.”
Beyond the glass, he adds, “we’ve invested in staff education, ensuring servers and bartenders have a deep understanding of prosecco — its origins, the significance of place and the key differences between DOC and DOCG classifications. By empowering teams with knowledge, we’re enhancing the guest experience and further solidifying prosecco’s place as a go-to choice for both casual sipping and elevated mixology.”
Value for Money
As consumers become more price-conscious within both the overall wine and sparkling categories, “we’re seeing a notable shift toward accessible luxury,” says Jones of Freixenet Mionetto. “This trend has worked in our favor, with consumers trading down from Champagne to more affordable yet high-quality sparkling wines for everyday enjoyment.”
Harvey & Harriet, a Rising Star from Constellation Brands, “is in many ways purpose-built for this price-conscious era we’re in,” says senior brand manager Chelsea Sprague. “We believe that we are offering stellar, high-quality wines for an unbeatable price,” typically less than $30.
“When industry trends are challenging and consumers are paying close attention to where they are spending their dollars, we want to ensure we are delivering the highest quality we can at the price point and varietal category we are competing,” Sprague says. “This is no doubt a major factor behind the accelerating sales growth of Harvey & Harriet wines throughout 2024 and into 2025.”
In fact, the brand was named after the founder’s parents, who raised a large family — seven children — on a modest budget. In today’s world, a high-quality bottle of wine is often a luxury out of reach for people like the original Harvey and Harriet, Sprague notes.
“And this has always been something we’ve been inspired to change,” she adds. “In an environment where consumers are being smart with their dollars, we keep our price-to-quality ratio top of mind and want to ensure that we are offering the best product at the best price to drive trial and build loyalty.”
Continuing the Momentum
Despite the political and financial turmoil and uncertainty of early 2025, most Growth Brand winners believe they’ll be able to build on their success this year.
For Hampton Water, “2025 will be a year of expansion and deeper consumer engagement,” Misiorski says. “We’re rolling out new marketing campaigns, influencer collaborations and retail promotions that build on our momentum. International expansion is also a key focus — we’re seeing increased demand for Hampton Water in new markets, and we’re excited to meet it.”
Harvey & Harriet will launch a new summer campaign. “This brand loves any moment or opportunity to encourage connection and sharing a glass of wine with a loved one or cooking a meal together, so we are having some fun exploring opportunities with coupons that cross with items like barbeque or picnic supplies,” Sprague says.
“We also look forward to building our network with influencers to help expand our brand awareness and introduce Harvey & Harriet to more wine drinkers, including those new to wine,” she adds. “This is a brand that can broaden wine’s appeal to the next generations.”
Valdo expanded its distribution footprint in 2024 and introduced Valdo Aquarius Blanc de Blancs, Clayton says. “With its crisp, refreshing taste and eye-catching bottle featuring original artwork by CeCi New York, Aquarius has captivated shoppers and turned first-time buyers into loyal fans.”
To bring more excitement to the category, “we’re launching unique and fun holiday campaigns, taking inspiration from our friends in the spirits industry,” he notes. “Expect value-added packaging, limited-release holiday wear, and festive promotions designed to make gifting — and celebrating — with Valdo even more special.”
In the on-premise space, Valdo will continue to innovate, expanding cocktail offerings and enhancing staff education. “And because the Mimosa is a timeless brunch staple, we’re not just honoring the classic — we’re helping businesses elevate and diversify it with creative new flavor variations,” says Clayton.
Avaline is gaining momentum in the on-premise space, Szura says. “When we secure placements, we actively drive traffic to those locations through our website’s wine finder and social media promotions. Additionally, our account activations — including educational tastings and sampling events — have been instrumental in increasing awareness and trial, further fueling demand for Avaline wines.”
The brand has leveraged digital tools such as its website’s wine finder and social media promotions to connect consumers with retailers and restaurants carrying Avaline. “These efforts have helped us successfully navigate the evolving landscape and continue expanding our brand’s reach,” Szura says.
The ability to reintroduce in-store sampling post-pandemic was a game-changer for Avaline, Szura notes. “We’ve seen the greatest impact when pairing tastings with retailer-supported display promotions, driving up to a three-times lift in sales scans. These strategic activations have been key to our growth.”
Pandemic-induced Shifts
The post-pandemic effects have been far-reaching, fundamentally shifting purchasing behaviors across all channels, says Freixenet Mionetto’s Jones. “In the on-premise specifically, the number of active licenses has declined since 2019, requiring us to be even more strategic in how we allocate resources and execute our sales and marketing plans. This shift has reinforced the importance of innovation as we continue to meet evolving consumer and customer needs.”
Consumer behavior has permanently shifted, with more emphasis on e-commerce, convenience and at-home experiences, says Misiorski. “We adapted by strengthening our digital presence, partnering with major retailers for seamless online ordering and increasing our direct-to-consumer efforts.”
Beyond just accessibility, “we kept our brand experience engaging and authentic, ensuring that whether consumers were buying Hampton Water online or at their favorite store, bar or restaurant, they felt connected to our lifestyle-driven approach,” he says. “The result? Continued momentum and an even stronger relationship with our consumers.” One lingering and positive effect of the pandemic has been a huge demand to start living again, Clayton says. Consumers have been regaining social contacts and human connection to enjoy and celebrate life again: “What a better way to celebrate life than with an amazing Italian prosecco?”
Feature photo by Mitchell Luo on Unsplash.
Melissa Dowling is editor of Cheers magazine, our on-premise sister publication. Contact her at mdowling@epgmediallc.com, and read her recent pieces, 8 Beverage Alcohol Trends in 2025.