Wine sales decline along the Eastern Shore

MARYLAND – Last year, wine sales fell around 6% according to data provided by SipSource and this is a trend we’ve seen over the last few years.

Not only are wine sales declining nationally, they’re declining here on the Eastern Shore.

“Wine sales have been down over the last three years for us. We’ve seen about a 30% total drop,” said William Layton, Layton’s Chance Winery Owner.

Layton is just one of the many Maryland business owners seeing wine sales declining since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Because demand did shoot up so much over COVID, people were staying home, drinking more and that was bound to end as people went back to work,” he said.

Another reason Layton said for the decline is the concern over health.

“You’re seeing some health warnings from the surgeon general and other health professionals. Europe, even with their wine drinking culture, it’s put out some warnings about wine saying not that it’s dangerous, but that it’s not as safe as people thought,” said Layton.

Tom Shelton of Bordeleau Vineyards and Winery said his sales have also have trended downward.

“But the other factor potentially, is the fact that marijuana has been legalized in Maryland and that’s probably impacting both beer and wine sales,” he said.

Shelton said despite sales declining, the amount people visiting the winery has remained the same.

“We’re doing everything possible to bring people into the winery, but what we find is people still come to the winery, but instead of buying a case, they may just buy a few bottles,” he said.

Shelton said he thinks that is because people don’t have as much disposable income as they used to.

Layton hopes sales will bounce back in the coming years.

“Sales are always cyclical I expect it to come back, I expect the health warnings to change. Five years ago they said a glass of wine a day is good for you and I think as they do more research that will come back,” said Layton.