The wine forecast 2012

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

2012 is set to be an exciting year for wine. Retro sweets are coming back into fashion and brand new varieties are being developed in unusual locations. The admirable march of the green brigade also continues with sustainable production methods becoming increasingly popular.

It’s getting sweeter

Recent sales suggest our palettes are leaning towards sweeter, lighter wines that are less oaky and have lower alcohol content. Popular varieties like Pinot Noir go well with all foods and are fresh and easy to drink. One of the biggest shocks is the rise of Moscato, a super sweet variety usually saved for dessert. It’s all thanks to hip-hop artists Drake and Roscoe Dash, who wax lyrical about Moscato in one of their recent hits.

The mood is bubbly

Champagne , Prosecco and sparkling wine will continue to fly off shelves as people try to forget the financial doom and gloom of the last two years. An unexpected shining star will be English sparkling wine, and the timing couldn’t be better. Expect to see revellers sipping it along the River Thames during the Olympic Games.

Wine is going green

Forward-thinking production houses in New Zealand are paving the way for sustainable, organic wine production. Consumer demand for environmentally friendly goods continues to soar, so this trend will likely carry on for years to come. On the same note, locally produced wines that have lower carbon footprints will carry on selling well, and a sense of national pride will lead to a rise in sales of Australian bottles in July.

Bargain bottles

One effect of the GFC is that we’re smarter about spending a day’s wage on a bottle. Online retailers like GraysOnline has made it easier to buy good wine at bargain prices in bulk. Global competition also means that the cost of more expensive varieties will fall in 2012. Keep an eye on our online wine auction to get the best prices on some excellent local and international varieties.

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