With the uncertainty that 2020 has unleashed on the South African wine industry, accurately predicting the next wine craze is no easy task. From alcohol bans to beach closures, it is impossible to know what is waiting for us around the next corner, and Covid-19 has certainly made life difficult for us oenophiles. The pandemic has complicated just about everything to do with the wine industry — from how we buy it, to how we taste it, and everything in between.
Despite this uncertainty, we’re putting our money on these wine trends making it big in South Africa this year:
Judging from trends in 2020, such as the health and wellness boom and the increase in online wine sales, it’s highly likely that many of these trends will continue to grow throughout 2021. Environmentally friendly packaging is also on the rise and rosé prosecco is expected to be this year’s trendiest drink.
Health and sustainability
The buzz-word at the moment when it comes to wine is sustainability. From packaging to its transportation and production, consumers are increasingly switched on when it comes to buying into a brand that is dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint in a meaningful way.
The pandemic has also highlighted the importance of caring for our health and we are seeing a rapid growth in low-alcohol and de-alcoholised wines as well as natural, low-sulfite and vegan-suitable wines. The key to success with this new market, it seems, is working out how to tap into the millennial consumer; a generation who are opting to drink less or opt for healthier options.
Also read: Buying a Wine Fridge in SA: Everything You Need to Know
Virtual sipping and shopping
Lockdown has kept us stuck inside for most of 2020 and so it came as no surprise that online shopping boomed. South Africans who had been slow to embrace the move to e-commerce before, were pleasantly surprised by its ease and convenience and wine estates who were quick to respond to the surge in online sales, saw significant growth.
Virtual wine tasting has also become an important tool for wineries and online wine events, webinars, and tastings show no sign of slowing down in 2021. It is expected that this trend will continue well past the time of Covid-19 lockdowns. Wine brands like Quoin Rock will be hosting an Online Masterclass with winemaker Schalk Opperman and the renowned Michelin star chef Jan-Hendrik Opperman in June of this year.
Opperman says that online sales helped Quoin Rock immensely during this period and predicts that online channels will continue to be the main driver of wine sales for the year 2021.
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Eco-friendly packaging
The traditional heavy glass bottle has been replaced in recent years, with lighter-weight more environmentally friendly options taking centre stage. From plastic bottles to wine in a box and even wine in a can, creative wine packaging definitely seems to be the trend in 2021. It remains to be seen how long these trends will last, or whether consumers will eventually go back to what they know and trust in the long term. However, it’s hard to ignore the convenience of wine in a can when planning an outdoor event such as a summer picnic or hike.
Find the best prices on canned wine online with PriceCheck now:
Rosé all day
Trending for the last six years, rosé has been a huge success over the past decade and many trend forecasters are predicting that 2021′s next big drink will be Prosecco rosé.
This light pink bubbly was launched in Italy at the end of November 2020, with the region already showing a steady increase in the sale of pink wines long before then. Combining the prosecco trend with the rosé trend is a sure thing for success, believes Opperman who is also the man behind Quion Rock’s 2020 Namysto Rosé, a vibrant and well-balanced wine available in South Africa now.
Find the best prices on rosé online with PriceCheck now:
