Cheers: Wine down the year

If you ever get the feeling you’re drinking your way through the holidays, you’re not alone. According to a top regional wine distributor, the week before Thanksgiving sees a major spike—no pun intended—in alcohol sales. “The Wednesday before Thanksgiving has always been the largest retail day for wine sales,” says Wally Sharp a district manager for Glazer’s Distributors. “That’s across the board, year after year, and including New Year’s Eve when champagne is a huge seller.” Sharp says pre-Turkey Day sales in Louisiana are split evenly between reds and whites, though sweeter wines on either side of the divide see a bump between this week and Christmas. “At least 40% of our yearly business is done in October, November and December.”