Secret Bottle’s wine trend predictions for 2024
As we say goodbye to the tumultuous year that was 2023 and embrace 2024 with open arms, it’s safe to say everyone is ready for the potential and new beginnings a new year can bring - whether that’s a fresh take on old favourites, new discoveries or the promise of different things to come. Now we’re not just talking about life in general here, but wine of course! We’ll be taking a look into the wine forecasts and predictions for 2024, so raise a glass and let’s ‘cheers’ to the year ahead!
Online purchases
Last year we saw the at-home consumption of wine and other alcohols skyrocket phenomenally due to the pandemic. With bars and restaurants coming to a sudden close, we had no choice but to alter our social lives and drinking habits, and sipping wine on the couch became the new go-to activity of sorts. Thanks to a plethora of different wine subscription services, wineries both big and small were able to stay in business throughout the lockdown and we were still able to get our hands on our favourite drops. Now, even as we see the hospitality industry start to regain traction, online delivery and subscription services are still set to remain popular throughout 2024.
Sustainability
Sustainable and low-intervention wines have been growing in popularity for some time now, but 2024 will see the already growing production continue to boom. As the threat of global warming and environmental degradation looms, more and more people are starting to give a damn about where their wine comes from, how it’s made and the ingredients that go into it. The combination of environmental issues has acted as a major driver of the organic, natural, biodynamic and low-intervention wine movement. We will be seeing not only the smaller and more niche wineries take on these growing demands, but bigger brands will start to implement better and more sustainable practises into their wine production to align with consumers' needs.
Under this large umbrella ethos of sustainability we will also be seeing the growing popularity of:
Orange wine
Orange wine or skin-contact wine is a type of white wine made by leaving the grape skins and seeds in contact with the juice, thereby creating an orange-hued finished product. Formally dismissed by wine snobs, we’re now seeing the return of orange wine in natural wine shops. Flavoured with vibrant aromatic ingredients such as citrus or white peach it’s no wonder this delicious drop is becoming trendy again.
Who’s behind the bottle
We’re seeing a growing movement from consumers who are interested in learning more about the wine they’re drinking and the story behind the bottle. There is a rich history behind the fermented grape, stories and events that span a millennium, so from vine to wine, people want to know the narrative behind it. For wine producers, this is also a great selling point and marketing strategy.
Wine spritzers/ seltzers & fizzy canned goodness
2023 was definitely the year of the seltzer, with different brands of the alcoholic sparkling water popping up all over the place. This trend will continue through 2024 with different tweaks and twists added to the can, particularly when it comes to wine-based hard seltzers. With their easy convenience, strong marketability and the capacity to experiment with all sorts of flavours, this is one trend that isn’t going away any time soon.
Virtual wine tastings for workplaces and companies
Again, due to the pandemic we saw companies and workplaces finding innovative new ways to boost group morale and come up with fun team building activities, and one of the standouts was virtual wine tasting. This also ties in with the growing interest from people who want to learn more about the wine they’re drinking, and what do you know, we right here at Secret Bottle just happen to offer the best virtual wine tastings around, so get onto it!
So, whether it’s the move into the online world through virtual tasting events and online orders, the rise of sustainable practises and learning about the people and stories behind the vintage, or our evolving palates and different flavoured wine-based drinks and packaging, we have a lot to look forward to when it comes to the beautiful world of wine in 2024.
