Millennials have recently surpassed Baby Boomers as America’s largest living generation and industries are adjusting accordingly. While many associate young Americans with craft beers and mixed drinks, one statistic that may take many by surprise relates to their wine consumption.
According to a 2015 study by the industry nonprofit Wine Market Council, Millennials consumed nearly half of the wine sold in the US last year. Yes, you read that correctly.
Millennials consumed almost HALF of the wine sold in America in 2015!
Sources: Wine Spectator, Fortune
What does this mean for the nation’s wine producers?
Well, they better prepare for expansion and increased production or risk getting left behind.
As this trend moves forward, automation within the wine industry is set to become increasingly important. Whether moving from hand filling stations to automated fillers or simply upgrading current lines to increase throughput, wineries risk missing out on large amounts of potential profit if operations are not set up to meet the inevitable rise in demand in the years to come.
This trend has already affected many in the craft brewing industry and those who’ve kept up with demand are now separating themselves from the competition (or being bought up left and right by larger companies.)
As a young American myself (who may or may not contribute greatly to the country’s increasing wine sales), I would suggest wineries prepare for the upcoming Vino Revolution, as our numbers continue to grow.