In 1995, Wiley first published Wine for Dummies, an instructional for aspiring oenophiles in the same format as the rest of the books in the popular, yellow-and-black jacketed reference series, which also includes Personal Finance for Dummies, Auto Repair for Dummies, and (a personal favorite) Raising Chickens for Dummies. But the “for Dummies” brand just took its wine 101 education a step further. It’s licensed a Wine for Dummies wine, complete with appellations bearing the same design as the books.
The Dummies wines were launched in May by Vision Wine & Spirits, a New Jersey wine importer and marketer. They cost about $10 a bottle and come in four varieties: Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon from California, and Pinot Grigio and Chianti from Italy. “Wines for Dummies is intended for everyday consumers, regardless of experience or budget, to enjoy without anxiety or the knowledge of fancy wine lingo,” said Vision Wine & Spirits Managing Director Dan Lasner in a release. “With this new brand, consumers will spend less energy worrying about which wine to choose and more energy enjoying them.”
It’s not as crazy a move as it may seem at first glance. Americans love their wine—especially the affordable stuff—and unit sales in the U.S. in the 52 weeks ending June 16 were up 4 percent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The top selling brand was Barefoot Wine, which is owned by E & J Gallo Winery, the company behind other popular, low-cost brands such as André and Carlo Rossi. There’s evidence that Americans are interested becoming actually knowledgeable about wines, too. The Wine for Dummies book is now in its fifth edition, with over 1 million copies in print. It remains a bestseller, according to Wiley.
Wine for Dummies wine is available now in 15 states (Maryland, Florida, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Wyoming). By September, it will be in another 10 to 15 states including Michigan, California, Arizona, and Massachusetts. Mark Tucker, marketing director for Vision Wine and Spirits, says in New Jersey, distributors sold 2,100 cases to more than 500 stores and restaurants in the state during the first month. The brand is available now at Wegmans supermarkets and will soon be sold in Dollar General.
The Dummies reference series, which launched in 1991, has expanded beyond books before. It has a licensed product line that includes electronics, videos, home improvement tools, and musical instrument starter packs.
