Spanish wine investment rises as US cocktail sales slow

Spanish investment wines are gaining significant traction in international auctions, with collector bottles reaching five-figure values. While French regions like Burgundy and Bordeaux have historically dominated the secondary market, Spanish labels such as Vega Sicilia, Pingus, and L’Ermita are increasingly prominent. Recent auction results show a Vega Sicilia Único 1921 reaching 2,629 euros, while certain vintages of Pingus have exceeded 3,000 euros.

In the United States, the ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail category experienced a slowdown in early August. NielsenIQ data indicates a 0.8% drop in sales and a 5.2% decline in volume. This downturn is largely attributed to a decline in malt-based beverages and seltzers, which saw sales drop by 9.1%. Conversely, spirit-based RTDs and wine-based cocktails continued to grow, with spirit-based sales increasing by 16.2%, suggesting a shift in consumer preference within the alcohol market.