Drinks supplier Bibendum has released its predictions for wine trends in 2017, including a focus on new regions and why this may be the year that sparkling red wine becomes mainstream.
“This time last year we predicted 2016 would be the year for an Old World red comeback. We reckoned craft beer would take its revolution out of London, and discerning cocktail fans would develop a taste for premium Rum. With strong performance in 2016 from Grenache (+10% vol), Gamay (+90%), Barbera (+23%) and Nero d’Avola (+34%); one in three outlets now stocking a craft beer; and Rum’s growth going from strength to strength, it seems our predictions were pretty accurate.
With this in mind, as 2016 draws to an end, our market insights team has been looking into their crystal balls (and cutting-edge data tools) to see what 2017 has in store…
The future is Premium: Premium quality drinks sales are growing at pace as people drink less but better. 15% of wine sold in the On Trade is over £20 now which is an increase of more than 10% in the past two years. We’ve watched this trend evolve and have also seen sales of our premium and artisan spirits nearly double in the last 5-6 years. Also tying into this trend the craft beer craze which continues to go from strength to strength.
All about the Loire: Both reds and whites from Loire are currently very popular. Traditional Loire (eg. Sancerre and Pouilly Fume) is well represented but smaller regions still have a way to go. However we feel that the time is now, and in 2017 we will see an increase in representation of smaller regions such as Touraine, Anjou, Saumur and Vouvray.
White from red regions: 2017 will see a rise in popularity of white wines from French regions recognised for their red wines. We will see more white Rhones, white Bordeaux and white Beaujolais hitting the lists. This trend has the potential to stretch to white Rioja. We’re seeing massive growth for Spanish Tempranillo, showing very positive brand recognition for the UK’s favourite wine region. There are also a growing number of white Riojas appearing on wine lists and it is a style that can succeed at all price points. A bold prediction maybe – but definitely one to watch.
Red is the next chapter in the ‘Alternative Sparkling’ story: The UK is still in love with Prosecco, but as On Trade fizz volume growth (+40%) is driven by lower prices (-8%), outlets are diversifying to offer customers a taste of something different when it comes to sparkles. Alternative Sparkling is already an established trend, but we are now seeing this expand to include Sparkling Red and Lambrusco - one in five of the lists analysed in Mode A/W 2016* contained at least one Sparkling Red wine.
Premium US whites: We’ve noticed a pattern for Chardonnays from the USA appearing at the top end of the list at industry leading restaurants. While USA white volumes have dropped -24% in the restaurant sector overall, the category is premiumising and bottle prices have risen +13% this year.
Portuguese white: Portuguese wine has exploded in the On Trade this year (+25% value) and we couldn’t ignore the number of leading restaurants listing wines from Portugal. Portugal makes up a comparatively tiny share of the market (<1%) but was present in 40% of the Mode lists analysed. We found equal representation of Red and White on lists, unlike On Trade sales where white accounts for 26% vs 37% red (37% is rosé, meaning Red outsells white 3 bottles to 2) . This could be an indicator that now is the time for Portuguese white to catch up.
Austrian Reds: Austrian wine has been trending for a while now, but recently the trend has particularly evolved into Austrian reds. Over 1 in 3 of the wine bars analysed list an Austrian Red. Austrian whites are still present on lists, but now they are joined by reds. This growth has been led by premium Austrian wine (up +5% volume this year) and is undoubtedly linked to the rise in popularity of Blaufrankish and Zweigelt.
Swartland: We’ve been banging the premium South Africa drum for a while now and it continues to do well in the On Trade (+8% value this year). It is possible this trend is driven by the increase quality of South African Sauvignon Blanc, the 2nd biggest white grape after Chenin Blanc. One region standing out above the others for producing superior wine is Swartland- appearing in almost 1 in 3 of London’s trendiest lists.
All in all, 2017 looks set to be a busy year in terms of new regions, unexpected varieties and enjoying premium drinks.
