(Wines&Vines) - Surging sales of red blends made headline news as consumer spending ticked up following the Great Recession of 2008-2009, but much of the growth was in price bands below $20 a bottle. Today, sustained economic growth has helped produce more discriminating wine buyers — ones buying less but spending more when they do.

Once again, red blends are a prime example. Direct-to-consumer (DtC) shipment data compiled by Wines Vines Analytics/ShipCompliant by Sovos reveal $100-plus bottles claiming the biggest portion of red blend shipments by value at $175 million in the latest 12 months, followed by $30-$59.99 bottles at $128 million. Bottles priced $30 and more represent 80% of all red blends shipped DtC.