After the holidays, the wine cellar is usually empty. It’s a good opportunity to leave old drinking habits behind and start the 2023 wine year with fresh momentum.
Unusual expansions, exciting wine regions, non-alcoholic sips, different colors and pink times await.
From ancient to futuristic
Ageing wines in wooden barrels or steel tanks is very common for many vineyard growers. In the world of wine, drops inspired by antiquity, ripened in clay amphorae, and sometimes even fermented, are increasingly popular. Small amounts of oxygen reach the wine through the fine pores of the container, which ensures slow growth, preservation of fruit notes and softer tannins. A similar result can be achieved with a concrete egg. It’s finding more and more supporters, apparently straight out of a sci-fi movie. They swear by the organic form, as it allows the wine to be in constant contact with the sediment and encourages the development of a delicate melt.
enter new territory
In addition to the usual suspects, promising wine regions with an excellent price-performance ratio can increasingly be found on the wine shelves of larger and smaller retailers. In 2022, wine producers from the Balkans organized the first Wine Fair in Belgrade, and Armenia was the guest country at the last Expovina held in Zurich. Also this year, we can count on the stronger presence of these ancient wine nations and discover previously unknown grape varieties.
Enjoyment without disappointment
The niche of non-alcoholic wines and with it the demand for quality is constantly growing. While they often lack fullness, they are an interesting alternative to banal soft drinks on a tasteful menu. More sophisticated specimens are sometimes even aged in wooden barrels today, revealing complex aromas. Fine juices that reach a nice depth of flavor through fermentation also provide variety. Dry Stove can be removed in this way by simply slurping it.
joy of color
Orange is a wine color that has finally become mainstream. It is a white wine that comes into contact with the air during its production and is left on the grape skins for a certain period of time (maceration). In this process, the color, tannins and aromas of the puree are transferred to the wine. This results in impressive wines with a velvety mouthfeel that show unusual ethereal and acidic notes. White wines that are blended with orange wine for added complexity are currently on the rise. These cuvés have a more accessible flavor profile than orange wine and also appeal to the less daring.
La vie en rose
Global interest in rosé, once mocked as a pool wine, has been growing steadily for some time. An additional boost was given in 2020 with the approval of pink Prosecco. Southern French producers have already done the same, releasing sparkling wines in a similarly fruity style. But even dry specimens have their charm. They create a beautiful figure as a simple accompaniment to vegetables, fish and white meat, whether with or without gas. The prospects for the first picnic of spring are undoubtedly rosy.