• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

1

Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place

2

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

3

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
Retailwine

How Millennials’ Wine Preferences Differ From Boomers

By
John Kell
John Kell
Contributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
John Kell
John Kell
Contributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence
Down Arrow Button Icon
June 29, 2019, 9:00 AM ET
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Carlo Rossi jugs of wine have always been a hit with boomers but dismissed by millennials. So E. & J. Gallo did something about it.

Late in 2017, the world’s largest family-owned winery debuted Carlo Rossi in 750-milliliter bottles—the first time it ever sold the brand in that format—because low-priced bulk wine didn’t resonate with millennials. E. & J. Gallo also shifted the styles of wine toward trendier Pink Moscato Sangria and Fiesta Sangria and away from Old World wines like Burgundy and Chianti.

“The next generation wants flavorful wine,” says Stephanie Gallo, E. & J. Gallo’s chief marketing officer. “We are evolving our brand to appeal to them.”

Americans between the ages of 21 and 34—a group that includes some Generation Z but is mostly millennial—purchase only 10% of wine sold at retail stores but account for 17% of the buying population, Nielsen data shows.

“This is an issue for the wine category,” says Danny Brager, senior vice president of Nielsen’s beverage alcohol practice. “The heartland of wine is boomers and seniors.”

Boomers are responsible for the largest growth period in wine sales in U.S. history. As they aged into adulthood, wine seemed fancy, especially compared with low-calorie beers and the cheap stuff liquor makers were selling. This demographic also benefited from a healthy economy, giving them the purchasing power to buy expensive wines.

But cost-conscious millennials are still bruised from the 2008 financial crisis and are delaying buying homes, getting married, and, yes, even the leap to buying fine wines. On a per-serving basis, wine is more expensive than beer and spirits. That makes it tough for millennials to stomach a $30 bottle of wine with roughly five servings (and oxidizes), while a similarly priced bottle of Maker’s Mark serves 25 and has a long shelf life.

Lately, wine has been hurt by stiffer competition from craft brewers and new threats like cannabis and nonalcoholic beverages. But the biggest problem is the resurgent liquor industry.

Beer’s market share in the U.S. total beverage alcohol market has ebbed from 56% in 1999 to 45.5% last year, according to data from spirits industry advocate the Distilled Spirits Council. Liquor makers have captured 9.1 percentage points of beer’s share losses, versus just 1.4 for wine.

“Spirits have done a pretty good job of pivoting and watching trends,” Brager says.

E. & J. Gallo sells three brands in cans: Apothic, Dark Horse, and Barefoot Spritzers.

Among styles, millennials favor Pinot Noir, Moscato, sparking wines, and of course, rosé. But they are shunning Chardonnay, White Zinfandel, and well, pretty much everything else.

Winemakers need a quick turnaround because by 2027, millennials are projected to surpass Gen X as the largest fine-wine-consuming demographic.

“What I love about millennials is they don’t view wine as a formal beverage but as a casual social beverage,” Gallo says.

Gallo wants winemakers to move away from elitist wine marketing. She also believes the industry could do a better job marketing and making wines for a more diverse population.

E. & J. Gallo has made some strides with millennials, scoring a notable hit with the red blend Apothic. It also sells three brands in cans: Apothic, Dark Horse, and Barefoot Spritzers. That has opened up new distribution opportunities, as canned wines can be more easily sold at sports stadiums, outdoor concert venues, and beach parties.

Sebastian and Colleen Hardy, cofounders of Living Roots Wine & Co. in Rochester, N.Y.Living Roots

Of course, millennials aren’t just old enough to be drinking wine—they make it too.

“Wine can be intimidating,” says Colleen Hardy, who cofounded Living Roots Wine & Co. with her Australian husband, Sebastian, both millennials. “But I do think our generation is curious, and we want to try new things and know about the people behind our products.”

Living Roots is an “urban winery.” It takes grapes grown in the Finger Lakes region to a warehouse in Rochester, N.Y., where they are pressed in a winery within city limits. Though missing the sweeping vineyard views, Living Roots has a tasting room that is more accessible to urban millennials who have moved back into the city.

And while wine remains the core focus, Living Roots collaborates with other local alcoholic beverage companies to generate buzz. The winery worked with Fifth Frame Brewing on a New England IPA brewed with the winery’s Pinot Gris juice. Down the road, it hopes to work with Black Button Distilling on a brandy.

News and analysis on the transformative power of design in business.

Hampton Water, like most rosés, targets millennials. The brand’s name evokes the Hamptons lifestyle, but at $25 per bottle, it is cheaper than jetting off to the trendy New York beaches.

“If you are 25 and walk into a liquor store and you are going to spend $80 on wine, you better know you will like it,” says Hampton Water founder Jesse Bongiovi. “I think that’s where the rosé category has set itself apart. You can get a really good bottle for about $20.”

Both Hardy and Bongiovi say social media is key to developing loyalty for their brands. Living Roots claims 61% of their Instagram followers are under the age of 35. Hampton Water uses social media, especially Instagram Stories, to engage with fans and showcase the people behind the brand. (It may help that Bongiovi is the son of legendary rocker Jon Bon Jovi.)

“Wine has got all the attributes that a millennial wants: They want craft, they want clarity of ingredients,” says Rob McMillan, executive vice president and founder of Silicon Valley Bank Wine Division. “It is on the table if we start to market it.”

More must-read stories from Fortune:

—Alcohol-free bars caught on in the U.S. and U.K. But can they go global?

—Why champagne brands are partnering with art fairs

—A new style of winemaking could take sherry mainstream

—Prepackaged sangria is having a moment this summer

—Listen to our new audio briefing, Fortune 500 Daily

Follow Fortune on Flipboard to stay up-to-date on the latest news and analysis.

About the Author
By John KellContributing Writer and author of CIO Intelligence

John Kell is a contributing writer for Fortune and author of Fortune’s CIO Intelligence newsletter.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Retail

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Retail

Target worker stocks shelves
SuccessJobs
Target is starting to track employees’ unexcused lateness and absences with a points system—and if they rack up 12, they’re fired
By Emma BurleighJune 29, 2026
8 hours ago
a
Commentary250 Years of Innovation
Atomic Industries CEO: America spent 60 years retreating from manufacturing. The next 100 are about building it back
By Aaron SlodovJune 29, 2026
14 hours ago
green
RetailWorld Cup
France wearing green for the Statue of Liberty: inside the unusual interpretation of ‘national pride’ that makes World Cup jerseys
By Claire Rush and The Associated PressJune 28, 2026
1 day ago
Peter Rahal speaks on stage in front of a black and purple background.
RetailFood and drink
David Protein CEO says ‘diet trends are over’ because of GLP-1s: ‘What’s next is really hard to predict’
By Sasha RogelbergJune 28, 2026
2 days ago
psg
RetailSports
More than a club: how Paris Saint-Germain took inspiration from the Barcelona slogan and the New York Yankees cap to create a global business brand
By Nick LichtenbergJune 28, 2026
2 days ago
family
CommentaryColleges and Universities
More than 3 million college students are raising kids. Most won’t graduate
By Enyi OkebugwuJune 28, 2026
2 days ago

Most Popular

Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
Success
Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
By Sydney LakeJune 29, 2026
9 hours ago
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
5 days ago
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
Success
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
By Preston ForeJune 27, 2026
3 days ago
The retired college professor fighting a $313 trespassing ticket in Wisconsin thinks he's part of a national struggle
Environment
The retired college professor fighting a $313 trespassing ticket in Wisconsin thinks he's part of a national struggle
By Catherina GioinoJune 28, 2026
2 days ago
Ex-Google engineer says Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Sundar Pichai share the same trait—it's the lesson he swears by as a $7.2 billion AI CEO
Success
Ex-Google engineer says Larry Page, Sergey Brin and Sundar Pichai share the same trait—it's the lesson he swears by as a $7.2 billion AI CEO
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJune 28, 2026
2 days ago
Cristiano Ronaldo is soccer's first-ever billionaire: He went from begging for burgers outside McDonald's to landing a $400 million contract
Success
Cristiano Ronaldo is soccer's first-ever billionaire: He went from begging for burgers outside McDonald's to landing a $400 million contract
By Preston ForeJune 28, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.