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It’s a new year in wine! For many who study wine or work in wine, that means taking a look at what regions, styles, and overall trends are starting to hit the spotlight! A lot of trends for this year have been on the rise in previous years and are now becoming more ‘normal place’.
Without much ado here’s a lineup of what’s been on the rise in the wine industry and what I think will continue to grow in 2024! I put this out on Instagram last week and got a lot of great additions!
Partly due to Global Warming but also the itch for something new.
Georgia, Armenia, Turkey… even just ‘native’ whites from Italy (outside of Pinot Grigio)!
We’re going back to the roots!
After studying various winemaking methods this year and seeing the resurgence of the amphora and other various vessels – I’m convinced that winemaking is getting more creative and fun – nothing is typical and new standards are being considered!
I’ve never seen Vinho Verde get as much attention as it did last year. …and for good reason.
Also regions like Portugal, and Chile …and smaller areas in France like Mâcon.
We don’t need to drop hundreds on classified Bordeaux or cult Napa wine to taste quality!
This year I got to visit FLX and Virginia and tasted some off-the-charts stuff. You no longer have to live near the West Coast to visit a world-class wine region. These areas are finally getting some due hype. I’ve heard talk of Vermont and North Carolina getting into the game among other states.
It’s not even solely ‘low abv’ or ‘no abv’ (although that’s still a big deal) people are just buying better quality and thinking about drinking differently more intentionally. Less bulk more heart…and better for the earth, body, people, and environment vibes!
Lots of appreciation for the quality of the smaller brands! That’s not to say bigger brands are any less quality – but the attention and dedication to the work, is strong with smaller producers.
We are also driven more by “the stories” of the brands and how we can connect to that!
“Old World, New World” just got pulled from CMS.
Minerality can’t be proven.
Feminine and Masculine are outdated.
Benchmark tasting notes will continue to be a thing for exams, but people are thinking about the language of wine and appreciating the development of describing wine as more inclusive, approachable, and outside the standardized ‘box’.
What’s your take on these?
What are you most excited about?
What would you add?
For me, the terminology changing is huge, since I follow and appreciate the structure of tasting. Being in that space has me constantly reflecting and learning about talking about wine.
That and all the ‘ancient grapes’ I still need to try!
It’s going to be a cool year in wine, and I’m certainly excited to be along for the ride!
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