(Wines&Vines) - Steady growth in U.S. wine sales continued through July, traditionally a slower season for purchases and direct-to-consumer shipments.

U.S. domestic wine sales increased 2% to $3 billion in July versus last year, market research firm bw166 reported, while Chicago, Ill.-based firm IRI reported that sales through the off-premise channels it tracks increased 1% in the four weeks ended July 15 versus a year earlier.

The gains were driven largely by table wines, with sales of domestic wines increasing 2% in the month to $2.9 billion, while domestic sparkling wines saw sales increase 3% to $139 million. Similarly, the latest 12 months saw domestic wine sales increase 3% to $46 billion.