2014 IS IN FULL SWING, BUT IT’S NOT TOO LATE FOR THE LATEST FORECASTS FROM ENGLAND’S THE DRINKS BUSINESS, LISTING THE YEAR’S TOP 10 TRENDS IN THE WINE WORLD AND BEYOND

2014 is in full swing, but it’s not too late for the latest forecasts from England’s The Drinks Business (www.thedrinksbusiness.com) to list the top 10 trends in the wine world and beyond. First of all, it will be a year of discovery, as wine lovers across the Channel are ready to be enchanted by little-known territories and wines from Bierzo in Spain, Campania and Basilicata in Italy, Hungary and the Vinho Verde in Portugal, as well as even more exotic locations like Turkey and China.
There is also more confidence, contrary to what is happening on the US market, in the Millennial generation that is ready to lead a new generation of influencers and trend setters, using entirely new socio-cultural references in the wine world. From a global point of view, the greater balance between supply and demand will be accompanied by a change in global consumption: we won’t run out of wine and in fact, in the medium term there should be enough so neither the average price, nor the producers’ revenues will be affected. The natural wine movement will still be riding the crest of the wave and sustainability will become a central theme on all levels, especially for the least possible intervention in vineyards and cutting emissions, which are all more and more sensitive topics for consumers.
On a more technical level, 2014 will be the year of re-discovering Chardonnay, especially in the cooler territories in the New World like Chile, Argentina, California, South Africa and New Zealand, at the expense of Pinot Grigio. Communication will also change, or rather, evolve, adapting to the continuous changes, but also rediscovering the beauty of direct contact, because despite the boom in creative content, it has not always catered to the right audience. One effect of this change will be the downfall of what in Britain is called the "Wall of Wine "; i.e., the invisible barrier that divides the wine world from the consumers, who often perceive it as something very complex and difficult to approach, but thanks to the big supermarket chains, the barrier will get lower and lower. China, along with many other areas, will continue to slow down, but this does not mean that they will not continue to focus a market that still has huge room for growth.
The problems in 2014 will come from the world of bureaucracy and legislation. How? Due to the pressure of the many health advocacy lobbies and the need to make money, by taxing the nectar of Bacchus, as the ongoing debate in Britain and France underlines. Finally, the boundaries between on-trade and off-trade sales will be increasingly blurred, with tastings at supermarkets worthy of a restaurant, and restaurants that will be letting their customers finish enjoying their wine at home.