PA Fine Wine & Good Spirits Stores Sales Decline

HARRISBURG, PA — Wine and liquor sales in Pennsylvania decreased slightly in the 2021-22 fiscal year. But the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board stated the $2.1 billion in retail and liquor license sales, a 3.4 percent decline from 2020-21, represented a return to near-normal pre-pandemic purchasing patterns.

The board recently released its 2021-22 fiscal year annual report that contains a wealth of statistics and information on the state's liquor system, including sales by county, product category and individual products.

What are people buying? Unflavored vodka was the top spirits category in 52 counties, while the remaining 15 counties favored American whiskey. California Cabernet Sauvignon was the top wine category in 34 counties; 24 counties preferred box red wine, while six favored California chardonnay. Beverage wine was top choice in three counties.

The report indicated that wine and spirits sales are more robust in some counties than others. For example, just three of the state's 67 counties - Allegheny, Philadelphia and Montgomery - accounted for 35 percent of all purchases in the state's 600 liquor stores last year.

The top five counties for wine and spirits sales:

1. Allegheny, $348.9 million.

2. Philadelphia, $267 million.

3. Montgomery, $239 million.

4. Bucks, $168 million.

5. Chester, $123 million.

6. Delaware, $96.5 million.

7. Lehigh, $89.6 million.

8. Lancaster, $78.4 million.

9. Westmoreland, $72.3 million.

10. York, $70.6 million.

Unflavored vodka was the top-selling liquor in all 10 of those counties. In nine of the 10, California Cabernet Cabernet Sauvignon was the best-selling wine; consumers in Chester preferred California Chardonay.

The best-selling liquors in Pennsylvania by units sold:

1. Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, 4.6 million.

2. New Amsterdam Vodka, 1.6 million.

3. Tito's Handmade Vodka (1.75 liters), 1.4 million.

4. Tito's Handmade Vodka (1 liter), 1.3 million.

5. Tito's Handmade Vodka (750 millileters), 1.32 million.

6. New Amsterdam Pink Whitney Park Lemonade Vodka, 1 million.

7. Crown Russe Vodka, 873,000.

8. Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Black Label Tennessee Whiskey, 834,000.

9. 99 Long Island Iced Tea Liquer, 779,301.

10. 99 Peaches Liquer, 752,764.

Top 1o wines by units sold:

1. La Marca Prosecco, 778,073.

2. Cavit Pinot Gringo, 536,775.

3. Kendall-Jackson Vinters Reserve Chardonay, 518,625.

4. Apothic Red Winemaker's Blend, 458,493.

5. Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Chardonay, 434,038.

6. Roscato Rosso Dolce, 419,065.

7. Cavit Pinot Grigio, 383,102.

8. Barefoot Pink Moscato, 382,724.

9. Josh Cellars Cabarnet Dauvignon, 363,725.

10. Barefoot Moscato, 335,276.

See the entire report here.