With a single bottle of California Cabernet Sauvignon selling for a shocking 350,000 dollars at an auction in 2017, it’s clear that investing in wine can have a major payoff in the long run. With that said, there’s no doubt that the year 2020 holds some well-awaited innovative trends that are well worth investing in. While trends for the wine market are always hard to predict, there are some that have gained popularity throughout recent years and are sure to be prominent in 2020.
Trending regions
It’s common knowledge that quality wines from regions like Tuscany, Napa Valley and Bordeaux have been steadily trending for years, and are almost always good choices for investors. However, Australian wine is another region to consider in terms of investment – in fact, Australian wine exports rose to
a whopping 2.7 billion dollars in 2018. With Australia’s highest produced variety of wine being Shiraz, and other countrywide favorites such as Merlot and Chardonnay, investment in Australian wine is on the rise (and particularly so for Chinese investors) – meaning it won’t come as a surprise for the Australian wine industry to become even more prevalent as a trending region this year. From wine on airplanes such as Qantas Shiraz wine, to Australian Chardonnay on drinking lists at restaurants, international wines are sure to be a market trend worth investing in this coming year.
The rise of vegan wine
Sustainable wines are perhaps one of the most innovative wine trends on the market, and it’s a trend that will most likely stick around and grow in popularity due to the rapid acceleration of climate change. Sustainable wine is essentially wine that has the environment taken into consideration within each step in the wine making process – for example, reducing water waste, using recycled bottles, and using the most efficient form of transportation with the least impact on the environment.
Vegan wine is also on the rise as more and more people turn to veganism and vegetarianism, with the purpose of eliminating the use of animal products in the fining process. Common animal products used in the wine making process include fish oil, gelatin, blood and bone marrow, while vegan wines use alternatives such as bentonite clay or limestone. Unfortunately, many wines don’t have these ingredients listed on the bottle, so for those considering investment, looking for clear markings is essential.
Light red wines
While there are many influences on the wine market, such as climate change and the popularity of certain regions, the evolution of how we enjoy fine wine has had a significant impact, and has made light and acidic wines a popular trend as of late. This is because most people tend to enjoy their wine with food or a meal, and light acidic red options can complement many dishes without overpowering them. Investing in light acidic red wines is likely to bring you a higher return, and especially so if they’re quality wines from top producers, which will more than likely gain in value as time passes and the demand grows. With that said, older bottles are sure to be more valuable in terms of investment, due to many buyers wanting light red options to be more mature and bold in taste and flavor.
From sustainable and vegan options to the popularity of light red wines, there’s no doubt that these trends are something to look into as an investor. And they don’t seem to be going anywhere soon, with factors that influence the market including climate change and the evolution of how we now enjoy wine to complement our food.
