Wine Trends for the Changing Season
Written By: Matthew Apsokardu on Tue, Sep 30th 2008
Not too long ago we were advising you to try chilled reds to cool down in the summertime. How times have changed! Now the leaves are turning shades of orange, red, and brown, and the tides of wine are shifting away from those chilled reds and whites.
It stands to reason - when the air is cool, we naturally desire something with fuller body and higher alcohol to warm us up. But who knew this temperature change could affect the wine market as a whole?
As I've talked to various retailers who work with ClassicWines.com, one recurring conversation is the stocking up of rich cabs and shiraz to sell through the winter. These vendors record a noticeable, albeit not dangerous, drop in sales when it comes to crisper, lighter whites.
"Sweet Riesling, Pinot Gris, Rose' in general... these are the kinds of wines that are dipping from demand. At least, that's what I've been seeing," stated Randy Torban, Director of Business Development at ClassicWines.com. "When listing wines with us, more and more retailers and wineries are putting emphasis on their big reds. I wouldn't be shocked if California cabs saw a spike in 4-season-regions like Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio."
There are other trends which might prove a little more surprising. When talking with Kamal Mukherjee of DrinkUpNY.com and DrinkUpForLess.com, he described some interesting activity in his sales:
Lately there has been a growing interest in Latin American wines as a whole. Besides buying the usual grapes like Cabernet or Chardonnay, people are increasingly trying regionally "local" grapes like Bonarda, Carmenere, Torrontes etc. Malbec from Argentina and Chile is often a big success. Many of our customers will buy Cabernet and Malbec or Carmenere and Merlot together to see how they play up against each other. Some of these wines often out sell other every day table wine. A few good examples are the Altos Las Hormigas Colonia Las Liebres Bonarda, Alta Vista Premium Malbec, and Casas Patronales Carmenere.
Keeping an eye on hot regions is one of the primary concerns for serious wine investors and retailers. Kamal sees one developing in Latin America... but who knows if it will continue to grow or drop off? That's all part of the game.
Kamal even left us with a "sleeper" selection to watch out for: "Latin America is also not your usual place for Gewurztraminer but some are making it and often it is a great value. One good example will be Aresti Estate Selection Gewurztraminer for $9.99."
