Daily Egyptian Summer05 Edition
Sponsored by 710 BookStore - - - http://www.seventen.com/Beer less refreshing this year
Destiny Remezas
Daily EgyptianFor first time in more than 10 years, the Gallup Organization has found something Paul Renzaglia, co-owner and wine maker at Alto Vineyards, saw first hand - wine is more popular than beer in the United States.
Since Gallup began taking these numbers in 1992, beer has always been on the top of the most preferred list of drinks, until this year.
The study surveyed more than 1,000 people across the nation in July.
The number of people who prefer wine has grown from 33 percent in 2004 to 39 percent in 2005, while beer has gone from 39 percent in 2004 to 36 percent in 2005. Gallup conducts polls that measure everything from drinking preferences to political opinions.
The results were a little surprising, Renzaglia said, but it did not catch him too much off guard.
"We've seen quite a bit more interest in wine and wine consumption," Renzaglia said. "I think we also see, particularly in the southern part of the state, that people have a real sense of loyalty to regional products."
Alto Vineyards, one of several Southern Illinois vineyards, has seen an increase in drinkers' appeal for wine, Renzaglia said.
The vineyard has doubled its wine production since 1988. Renzaglia said he credits the explosion to the additional vineyards in the area.
He said people, who tend to visit a vineyard for a wine tasting, usually become more curious about the product.
However, the change in the preference comes largely from 18 year olds to 19 year olds, who have lowered their preference for beer to accommodate the growing trend toward drinking hard liquor drinks, like martinis, the poll found.
But Renzaglia has seen an increase in wine drinkers of all ages, he said.
Gregg Karayiannis, manager of Pinch Penny Liquors, said he has also seen college students increase their wine consumption.
"I believe that young college-age market is more interested in wine now than it was five or six years ago," Karayiannis said
The store, which serves mostly college students, has seen about a 25 percent increase in wine consumption over the last three years, he said.
In addition to the younger generations, the poll showed beer lost ground with mid-aged drinkers, who have also increased their preference for wine and liquor.
"I think a lot of the interest in wine and the attention to wine now has to do with a lot of the research that wine is a beneficial food product," Renzaglia said.
Consumption of wine, in moderation, can reduce cholesterol levels, according to studies done by the University of Arkansas Institute of Food Science and Engineering.
Susan Karayanis, owner of Chicago Underground Grill and Pub, said the restaurant has always had a large wine cliental from this age group, since it's opening in 1999.
" Our first and foremost emphasis is on wine," Karayanis said. "A lot of the people that come here, they live for wine basically. It's more or less their hobby."
Reporter Destiny Remezas can be reached at destiny_remezas@dailyegyptian.com
The Daily Egyptian, the student-run newspaper of SIUC, is committed to being a trusted source of information, commentary and public discourse while helping readers understand the issues affecting their lives.
The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester. The Pulse, Carbondale Entertainment Guide, is published once a week on Thursday.Last update: Tuesday, August 2, 2005 at 6:45:10 PM
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