Happy New Year, Happy Wine Trends
If “stay at home” has done anything for me, it has given me a lot more time to muse about wine, read about wine, build my wine business and drink a lot of wine. What I offer this month is my view of trends to look for 2021. Perhaps this will give you talking points for your new round of Zoom happy hours and hopefully, it will encourage you to try something new.
Natural Wine- Oh my, what a confusing category of wines! This term encompasses so many viticulture and winemaking decisions and techniques- even the color of wine- think orange wine. Briefly, organic wines are created in the vineyard and in the winery, with the key feature of using only natural ingredients in all phases of the process. This means no chemicals, including sulfites. Biodynamic wines are made in the vineyard where tending the vines is guided by the stars and moon, letting us know when to care for fruit, roots, leafs and flowers. Vegan wines (yes, wines can be vegan) do not use animal products in making wine. Why, you ask are animal products used in winemaking? Egg whites and rennet (cheese making by product) are used to clarify wines, but vegan wines use things like cold stabilization or nothing at all- leaving the yeast byproducts of the sugar-alcohol conversion for you to strain first or spit out of your mouth later. One trend here I’m excited about are Pèt Nats (Pètillant Naturels). This isn’t a new way of making sparkling wine, but actually a very ancient one. The second fermentation takes place in the bottle, but it is not disgorged, leaving the yeast byproducts in the bottle. These wines are musky and fruity- a combination that feels closer to the earth and vine. I’ve tried 3 this summer- Field Recordings, Alta Colina and Montemar and they were wonderful.
Rosecco- Technically, this isn’t an official term, you won’t likely see it on the label. It’s a Rosè Prosecco. By summer it will be everywhere! By Italian law, this wine is 85% Glera (the traditional Prosecco grape) and 15% Pinot Noir. Such a friendly wine. I picked up a big bottle at Eataly for New Year’s Day- lots of strawberry and a little cream. The last time I was at Trader Joe’s the LaMarca Rosecco was on the shelf, so it’s well on its way to being the wine of the summer, why not start now?
Social Identity Advocacy in Wine- led by the Black Lives Matter movement, more companies and consumers are considering who is making and selling their wines when making their hiring and buying decisions. This is bringing a spotlight to African American, Latinx and Women wine professionals that has been sorely needed in the mostly White wine world. Following this trend will lead you to wineries you may be experiencing for the first time and unique expressions in wines that represent more of who we are.
Wine in a Can- Yes, it can be good!! It’s great poolside, it’s easy to pack, there is some portion control if you don’t want to drink the whole bottle. There is a lot out there. I like: Jacqueline Leonne Sparklers, the Underwood line, Nomadica, Margerum Rose, Epiphany and Una Lou. There are also wine-based spiked fizzy waters. These are nice alternatives to White Claw and its cousins. Try She Can, Pampelonne or the Field Recordings lines. Remember that a 12-ounce can is half a bottle of wine, so you may bristle at the high price tag of some (e.g. 4 cans for $40)- and if you chug it like a beer, you may be in trouble a little sooner than expected.
Reservation Only Wine Tasting- Many wineries were forced to move to this because of social distancing and limited outdoor space and many of them liked it! Tasting room staff I spoke with actually saw their sales increase by being able to provide more personalized experiences for guests. I know when I was at Law (Paso Robles) this summer, almost every party we saw signed up for their wine club, taking a 6-pack of their $75 price point wines with them. OK, I was one of them- it was hard to resist! As a taster, I appreciated knowing that I wouldn’t be crowded around a bar, jockeying for my next pour. Having a schedule also kept us on track. We were still able to experience surprises by calling ahead to the lesser-known wineries. I like this trend.
Virtual Wine Tasting- Another adaptation due to the pandemic that is here to stay. Friends across the miles have enjoyed curated and DYI wine tastings; winemakers have been able to connect with their fans in new way;, and wine educators have found new audiences. MWA was happy to be an early adopter of this trend!
The Impact of the 2020 Napa Valley Fires- There will be a lot talk and speculation about these devastating fires that destroyed or damaged a couple of dozen wineries and wiped out much of the 2020 vintage. The trend? Look for yet-to-be-released vintages to increase in price and for wineries to ration releases, keeping the 2018s and 2019s a little longer to make up for what will be missing from 2020.
And Finally… Traveling Hard! Sometime in 2021 we will be headed to lands near and far. Make your plans far in advance, taking advantage of COVID-related cancellation policies, because when we can travel, we will be doing it hard core. Prices will go up, flights, hotels and tasting rooms will be booked, but we will all be happy that 2021 has finally delivered on the promise we all see in it.