Portfolio Move
Meiomi Wines, the Pleasanton, Calif.-based brand that holds the top-selling Pinot Noir position in the U.S., is pushing into the white wine set with Meiomi Blanc White Wine — a proprietary blend of unoaked Chardonnay, Viognier, and Malvasia sourced from select Central Coast vineyards, including Arroyo Seco fruit. The SKU carries a suggested retail price of $20.99 and is available at retailers nationwide as well as direct-to-consumer through meiomi.com.
The launch represents the brand's first self-originated white blend. Meiomi already markets a Sauvignon Blanc, but Jason Becker, Director of Winemaking for Meiomi, described the new expression as a distinctly richer, more textured proposition. "By blending unoaked Chardonnay, Viognier, and Malvasia from California's Central Coast, we've created a vibrant, approachable wine that stays true to the balance and elegance consumers expect from Meiomi, while offering a new way to enjoy the brand," Becker said.
The Category Case
The timing tracks with measurable shelf momentum. White blends priced above $11 posted 11% volume growth in the U.S. in the 12 weeks ending March 1, 2026, according to Circana Total US MULO+C data — one of the few traditional wine segments registering gains in an otherwise sluggish beverage-alcohol environment. That growth rate positions the white blend tier alongside sparkling wine and canned cocktails as a bright spot operators and buyers are actively chasing.
For on-premise accounts, the $20.99 SRP signals a by-the-glass price point that fits comfortably in the $12–$16 BTG range at casual dining and polished-casual venues — a slot where operators have been rebuilding wine velocity lost during the inflationary pullback of 2023–2024. The Meiomi name carries demonstrated consumer recognition in the Pinot Noir daypart, giving beverage directors a familiar handle to drive trial on a new varietal.
On-Premise Implications
Meiomi is a subsidiary of The Wine Group, which distributes at national scale, so distribution velocity into chain accounts should be rapid. Beverage program buyers at full-service chains evaluating white wine SKU rationalization will find the blend's unoaked Chardonnay base approachable for guests skeptical of heavy oak, while the Viognier and Malvasia components add aromatic lift that supports menu pairing across seafood, grilled chicken, and creamy pasta — high-frequency center-plate proteins in casual dining. The 14.0% ABV is notable; it sits above the category norm for whites, which operators should factor into pour-cost modeling.
The move also reflects a broader portfolio strategy for brands anchored in red wine trying to capture white wine incremental occasions rather than cede that spend to competing labels. Meiomi's Pinot Noir franchise was built on coastal-origin storytelling and smooth approachability — attributes the brand is directly applying to the white segment rather than engineering a stylistically distinct product. Whether that continuity accelerates on-premise trial or limits differentiation will depend largely on how chain wine programs merchandise it against established white blend incumbents.
For related coverage on premium wine placement in foodservice channels, see our reporting on beverage program trends and wine category performance in casual dining.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
