What Happened to Viniq? Was It Discontinued?

Have you ever dreamed of drinking the galaxy? That’s a magical experience Viniq once offered before its production was cut short.

Viniq was first launched in 2014 but was discontinued years later, around 2019 or 2020. There is no exact reason as to why the distiller (E. & J. Gallo) decided to discontinue the production of Viniq. Since then, it has been challenging to find a bottle of Viniq.

This article will discuss what has happened since Viniq was first launched up to its discontinuation. Then, I will also talk about where you can get one of its now rare bottles. Keep reading to know all these and more.

Table of Contents

Why Was Viniq Discontinued?

Viniq was once part of E. & J. Gallo’s portfolio of spirits. Made from vodka, Moscato, and natural fruit flavors, this drink stood out because of its remarkable shimmer, courtesy of powdered mica (Source: Daily Mail). Regarded as one of the first shimmery drinks, it quickly became a favorite.

Viniq was first launched in the United States in 2014. A year later, its sales grew all over the country, suggesting growing popularity among Americans (Source: PR Newswire). By 2016, the line was composed of three flavors:

Original
Ruby
Glow

Eventually, the drink made its way across the globe to Australia within the same year. However, despite its early success, its distiller – E. & J. Gallo – decided to discontinue Viniq.

There is no official reason why Viniq was discontinued by E. & J. Gallo. It was discontinued around 2019 or 2020 (the exact date is unknown). There have been only a few bottles available on the market since then.

If you look at the distiller’s website, Viniq is no longer part of its portfolio (Source: E. &. J. Gallo Winery). They also don’t have a statement regarding its discontinuation, or whether it’ll be replaced or make a comeback in the future.

Where Can You Buy Viniq Now?

Since its discontinuation, it’s been challenging to acquire Viniq. A bottle used to have a suggested retail price of nearly $20 (Source: ABC Commission). Now, only a few bottles are available for sale, and some online stores state that they’re already out of stock.

You can buy Viniq at wine auctions. However, supply may be inconsistent, as it depends on available sellers. You can also visit online stores to see if they can help you procure one.

As of this writing, most of the known wine auctioneers didn’t have Viniq up for bidding. That said, you can try checking them out if you need a bottle in the future. For example, you can look at the following:

Wine Auctioneer
WineBid
Sotheby’s Wine
Christie’s Wine & Spirits
Acker Merrall & Condit
Zacys Wine International Bacchus Wine Auctions
The Wine Retail Room
Bid for Wine
Tennants Auctioneers

Also, a few online stores may have Viniq on hand — or, at least, will help you look for one. For example, Total Wine & More found a bottle of Viniq Ruby from South Sarasota, Florida, USA (Source: Total Wine & More).

GotoLiquorStore also helps customers find shops with available bottles. However, this depends on your location and nearby shops (Source: GotoLiquorStore).

If you manage to find a store or wine auction house with a bottle of Viniq available, make sure you verify that availability before purchasing. If you’re able to find their contact info and are willing to wait for a customer service representative to get back to you, you can ask them whether they still have any of that precious beverage on hand.

Viniq was a popular drink made of vodka, Moscato, and fruity flavors like berries and peaches. It was discontinued in 2019 or 2020 for reasons not revealed by the distiller, E. & J. Gallo, but you can check wine auction houses or online stores if you need a bottle.