A trend analysis using data from AC Nielsen on the TOP 100-selling premium wine brands in the USA shows that since 2010, the year when the study began, there has been a significant 30% increase in the market share of wines sealed with natural cork compared to a 9% increase in wines bottled with alternative wine closures.
Annual brand sales of wines sealed with cork closures increased by 7% compared to the prior 12 months, almost doubling the overall growth of the TOP 100-selling premium wine brands.
These latest findings by Nielsen demonstrate the increasing role played by a natural cork closure in adding value to a bottle of wine. The average price of cork finished wines was $ 12.99, up $ 4.09 (+ 46%) as compared to wines with artificial closures.
Trend of the average selling price of the TOP 100 premium wine brands from August 2013 to August 2014:
| 16/08/2014 | 17/08/2013 | Difference | |
| Cork | $ 12.99 | $ 12.30 | $ 0.69 / 5.6% |
| Alternatives | $ 8.90 | $ 9.27 | $ -0,37 / - 4.0% |
Carlos de Jesus, Corticeira Amorim's head of marketing and communication, said: "These are encouraging figures because the USA is not only a very important market for the cork industry but also an important trendsetter internationally. The U.S. is now the world's biggest wine market. These figures are even more relevant if we consider that the USA has a great potential for growth in the per capita consumption of wine."