Top 10 most powerful wine brands 2013

Every year nearly 10,000 drinks brands are analysed by Intangible Business in partnership with the drinks business to produce the Power Brands 100 – comprehensive overview of the most powerful wine and spirits brands in the world.

Every year the drinks business work with Intangible Business to produce the Power 100 – a list of the top 100 most powerful spirits and wine brands in the world.

Each brand is given a score by which its power, and the brand’s ability to generate value for its owner, is calculated by factors including its share of the market, growth, brand awareness, relevance and heritage. A panel of leading experts then rank each brand out of 10 on each factor to calculate an average score for each brand.

The list, based on the Drinks Business Power Brands 2013 report, was dominated by US and Australian producers with just one top 10 brand based outside of these regions.

Scroll through to see which wine brands are currently deemed to hold the most power… 

The drinks business is due to begin compiling its 2014 report shortly.

10. Blossom Hill, US

Despite its overall score dropping by 9% Blossom Hill retained a top 10 position in the Power brands 2013 report.

Owner: Diageo

9. Jacob’s Creek, Australia

Jacob’s Creek’s power score dropped by 4% but still managed to hang onto a top 10 position at 9th place. Jacob’s Creek, made at the Orlando Wines winery in South Australia’s Barossa Valley is owned by Pernod Ricard. Its first ever bottle of Jacob’s Creek was released in 1976 and continues to be the winery’s leading brand.

Overall rank: 65 

Owner: Pernod Ricard

8. Beringer, US

Beringer saw a 6% improvement on its brand score in the Power 100’s latest report placing it in eight place.

Based in Napa, California, Beringer’s vineyard is “the oldest continuously operating winery in the Napa Valley” having been founded in 1875 and was the first California winery to to offer public tours after the end of Prohibition. Its land is listed under under the National Register of Historical Places and as a California Historical Landmark.

Overall rank: 63

Owner:  Treasury Wine Estates

7. Lindemans, Australia

Lindemans too saw an increase to its power score which rose by 4% in 2012 earning 7th place.

The Australian winery, owned by Treasury Wine Estates, was founded in 1843 by Henry Lindeman who planted its first vines in the Hunter Valley region of New South Wales. The winery now has vines in Barossa Valley and Coonawarra, Padthaway and at Karadoc.

Overall rank: 50 

Owner: Treasury Wine Estates

6. Sutter Home, US

Sutter Home saw the biggest jump in power with its score rising by 9%.

Based in Napa’s St Helena, it is one of the largest family-run, independent wineries in the US. It produces 18 varietal wines including Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, White Zinfandel, White Merlot, Gewurztraminer, Chenin blanc, Moscato, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Red, Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio.

Overall rank: 44

Owner: Sutter Home Winery

5. Yellow Tail, Australia

Yellow Tail saw its power brand score nudge up by 2% in the 2013 report earning it fifth place in the world’s most powerful wine brands.

Yellow Tail produced varietal wines from the grape varieties including Moscato, Riesling, Semillon,Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Grenache, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon in addition to some blended wine and Rosé.

The brand is named after the Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus), a relative of kangaroo.

Overall rank: 41 

Owner: Casella Wines

4. Robert Mondavi, US

Robert Mondavi, whose power score slipped by 1% in this report, pioneered the practice of labelling wines by variety, rather than generically, which is now standard for new world wines.

Mondavi founded the Robert Mondavi winery in Napa with his sons Michael and Tim Mondavi in 1966 with the aim of rivalling the finest wines of Europe. It was the first major winery built in Napa Valley post-Prohibition and built a reputation for good wines among vintners and critics alike. In 2004 Constellation Brands acquired the Mondavi winery in a controversial takeover for nearly US$1.36 billion

Overall rank: 32 

Owner: Constellation

3. Concha Y Toro, Chile

Taking the biggest hit to its power score was Concha Y Toro – the only non-Australian or Californian producer to make it into the top 10.

The Concha y Toro Vineyard was founded by Don Melchor de Santiago Concha y Toro and his wife, Emiliana Subercaseaux, in 1883. Based in Chile, the young winemakers started out buying grapes in from Bordeaux but today has 8,720 hectares of vines throughout Chile’s major wine regions: Maipo, Maule, Rapel, Colchagua, Curico, and Casablanca. It is perhaps best known for its Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon.

Overall rank: 29 

Owner: Concha Y Toro

2. Hardys, Australia

The Australian wine brand Hardys saw a 3% slip to its brand score but stands firm as the second most powerful wine brand in the world.

Founded by British born Thomas Hardy, Hardys started life in 1853 when Hardy and his wife planted two acres of fruit trees and Shiraz wines in south Australia, later adding Muscatel grapes in 1861. The vineyard’s first wine was made in 1857 and grew to become Australia’s biggest wine producer.

Overall rank: 26

Owner: Accolade Wines

1. Gallo, US

Despite its power score slipping by 5%, Californian wine giant Gallo currently holds the title of the most powerful powerful wine brand in the world.

The E & J Gallo Winery was founded in 1933 by two brothers in California’s Modesto region shortly after the repeal of prohibition. Today it is the largest family-owned winery in the United States and, in addition to the Gallo Family Vineyards brand, makes, markets, and distributes wine under more than 60 other labels including Barefoot.

Overall rank: 18

Owner: Gallo