A sparkling life – not only on New Year’s Eve

The sparkling wine market has contacted recently, but if we take a look at the changes occurring in its structure, we can say that it has moved in the direction of quality and exclusiveness.

According to Tamás Lőrik, product manager with Törley Pezsgőpincészet Kft. told our magazine that tank-fermented sparkling wines are still the most popular, but more and more consumers decide to taste bottle-fermented products too. His experience is that private label products are losing ground against branded sparkling wines. Miklós Gáspár, commercial director of Garamvári Wineyard told our magazine that with the growing popularity of classic, traditional bottle-fermented sparkling wines several new producers and products appeared in the category. Parallel to this, the seasonality of sparkling wine buying decreased: those who can afford drinking quality sparkling wine and champagne consume them more frequently. Increased activity from imported brands puts new colours on the palette and also reduces the market’s seasonal character. Arthur Metz cremant products from Alsace are new products in the UNITED BRANDS portfolio, but two new sparkling wines from J.P.Chenet, Ice and Ice rose are more than this: they are real innovations. Richárd Kiss, managing director of UNITED BRANDS Magyarország Kft. informed Trade magazin that these products are able to reach young consumers. Csaba Mosonyi, the marketing director of Pernod Ricard Hungary Kft. agreed that sparkling wine is becoming popular ‘out of season’ too, for instance in the summer. The company put a flavoured product, Café de Paris Bitter Orange on the market. Krisztina Hegedűs, the brand manager of Martini distributor DunaPro Drink Kft. revealed to us that the Martini sparkling wine range was designed to include all versions: Asti Martini, Martini Brut, Prosecco and Rose sparkling wines are available in various sizes. 0.75-litre Asti Martini remains to be the most popular product, but thanks to the Martini Royale cocktail, Prosecco’s popularity is also growing. Asti Martini products hit the shops before Christmas in a white bottle version, with a special marker to write or draw on the bottle – anything you put on it will illuminate in the dark. Market leader Törley Pezsgőpincészet launches several new products every year. The popularity of products with lower alcohol content is increasing. Törley Aérien is the perfect choice for those who like their drink to be sweet, light, fresh and fruity: it basically a flavoured, wine-based cocktail with fewer bubbles and 5.5 percent alcohol content. Hungaria V-Edition Extra Dry is the brand’s fifth limited edition product, which is made from French Viognier grapes using 10-month bottle-fermentation. Törley had the packaging of BB sparkling wines redesigned, giving these products a trendy, party-vibe look. This year’s new product is the sweet BB Spumante Rosé. Garamvári Wineyard only makes sparkling wines using traditional technology. There are more than 10 different products and they are marketed under the Vincent brand name. This year Vincent labels were standardised and modernised. The company also invested in new technology in the domains of aging and processing. This season they sell 4 Vincent sparkling wines at promotional prices.