It’s an exciting time for the wine industry – it seems as though the planet has stabilised again after the Covid-19 pandemic, but as usual, there’s plenty more change on the horizon. In 2022, we saw sustainability and respect for the environment become an increasingly important wine trend – this is expected to continue in 2023. The forces of climate change, digitalization, and globalization are all leaving their mark on this ancient industry, which is becoming increasingly driven by e-commerce. Add this to the crowds of pioneers blurring traditional wine styles, and 2023 is set to be a fascinating year for wine. 

In this article, we’ll update you on all of the major expected wine trends of 2023. We will discuss how sparkling wine is set to replace beer as America’s drink of choice, and how the region of Franciacorta rises in prominence and popularity day by day. We’ll also explore the continued growth of e-commerce within the industry and what the concept of terroir means in 2023.

Fizzy Wine is Still Popping

Sparkling wine has always been a pretty popular drink in the United States, but in recent years we’ve seen sales increase dramatically. In 2023, we’re expecting to see sparkling wine overtake beer as the USA’s most-consumed beverage. This surprising trend goes hand in hand with the rising popularity of wine-based cocktails such as spritzers, or fizzy wine in a can. lso explore the continued growth of e-commerce within the industry and what the concept of terroir means in 2023.

Champagne

We can see more emerging fizzy wine trends in the specific region of Champagne. “Grower” Champagne has been gathering momentum over the last few years and is something you should definitely watch out for in 2023. Grower Champagne refers to wine that has been grown, harvested and bottled all by the same people. For a particularly fantastic example, take a look at Champagne Agrapart & Fils, who make small-yield, high-quality wines. Another phrase you may see tossed around in 2023 is “neo-négociant”.

A négociant is essentially a wine producer who doesn’t grow grapes, instead sourcing them from various expert growers, many of which are families who have tended vineyards for generations. A neo-négociant, however, is a master of both – a grower turned négociant, who can pick and choose from a wide selection of terroirs. Expect to see the label “RM” for “Récoltant Manipulant” on even more bottles this coming year, as the trend continues to grow. 

Franciacorta

While famous regions like Champagne, Cava and Prosecco continue to thrive, it must be remembered that sparkling wine is often purchased for its novelty. In 2023, you can expect to see Franciacorta become a wine trend in itself. Relatively untouched by the mainstream, the name still brings a sense of intrigue and mystique that inquisitive wine drinkers find irresistible.

In order to achieve DOCG status, these sparkling wines must be made using the traditional method, with the second stage of fermentation inside the bottle, on the yeast. They also have to spend at least 18 months aging. 2021 was a good vintage for Italy so the Franciacorta that see the light of day in 2023 are bound to be fantastic. If you want to learn more about the intriguing terroir of Franciacorta, take a look at our article on the topic, where we explain everything you might need to know.

Style-Blending

When we talk about wine in general, we could be referring to anything from a 5% ABV sparkling white, to an amber wine, to unctuous fortified reds. There are countless styles to explore, but as time goes on, the world of wine is beginning to look like a spectrum rather than a bunch of clearly defined categories. This is a trend we expect to see continuing over the next year. 

These days, more wines of various styles are being produced in a wider variety of locations than ever before. The entire scene is looking more multidimensional, full of nuance, and sometimes just downright confusing with every passing day.

One useful way to illustrate this is by looking through a microscope at a more specific section of the wine world – as we did with New World Chardonnays (Read more here). Traditionally, still Chardonnay wines can be split into two types – oaked, which are typically round and buttery, and unoaked, which are more elegant and acidic. What we see in the article, however, is that pioneering wineries are creating style-blending wines. Some are hybrid New World Chardonnay’s with the best of both, or incredibly full-bodied Chardonnay’s that you can pair with meat. A great way to discover this blending of styles for yourself is through our “Around the World” tasting case. It’s a carefully cultivated selection of Chardonnay, exhibiting the best of the New and Old World.

You should also keep an eye out for a popularity spike in “off-red” wines, which combine the flavors of a red with the light body of a white, and a color that is not quite rosé either. These will utilize classic light red wine grapes, like Pinot Noir, Gamay, or Dolcetto. 

As we said already, various styles of wine are constantly popping up in odd locations all over the world. Next year, look out for white wine from Rioja, and red wine from Champagne or England. In short, if it’s experimental or difficult to categorize, look out for a spike in popularity in 2023.