Industry Insights

5 Wine Trends To Watch in 2024 (+ How To Leverage Them)

Oct 10, 2023 • 5 min read

Wine might be one of the oldest beverages in the world, but the wine business is constantly changing and evolving. Don’t get left in the dust — stay in the know about the latest wine trends to keep your customers happy and earn their trust.

Wine is more than just a beverage; it's an art form, a science, and a cultural experience all wrapped up in a bottle. And just like any art form, it's subject to trends and innovations shaping how we enjoy and savor it. From the resurgence of ancient winemaking techniques to the emergence of exciting new varietals and sustainable practices, the wine world is bubbling with excitement.

What’s more, with the right knowledge, you can channel this enthusiasm and excitement into higher sales for your wine shop.

What are you waiting for? This post will uncork this year’s hottest wine trends. For each trend, we’ll explain what it’s all about and give you tips for leveraging it in your wine store.

Why Watch Wine Trends?

Before we dive into our list of the top trends to watch this year, let’s establish some important foundations: Why care about wine trends in the first place? When you own a wine shop, you’re not just selling wine, you’re curating an experience for your customers.

Following wine trends can help you curate this experience in a few ways:

Customer Preferences: First and foremost, staying updated on wine trends allows you to align your inventory with what your customers want. Knowing what's hot in the wine world helps you stock the bottles flying off the shelves.
Competitive Edge: Being ahead of the curve in wine trends gives your shop a competitive edge. When customers know they can find the latest wine craze at your shop, they'll choose you over the competition.
Seasonal Variations: Wine trends often vary by season and occasion. Tracking these trends allows you to tailor offerings to match your customers' needs throughout the year.
Wine Education: Following wine trends isn't just about sales; it's about education. It encourages continuous wine education for both your staff and your customers. When well-informed about the latest trends, your team can provide valuable insights and recommendations to your customers, fostering a deeper appreciation for wine.
Marketing Opportunities: Lastly, leveraging current wine trends in your marketing campaigns and promotions can work wonders. Your marketing strategies become more relevant and enticing when you're tapped into what's hot in the wine world.

Keeping an eye on wine trends is a strategic move that can elevate your business, delight your customers, and keep you ahead in the ever-evolving world of wine. With these benefits in mind, let’s dive into our list of the wine trends you should watch this year.

1. Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wine, including Champagne, prosecco, and other bubbly choices, has been rising in popularity for several years, and that trend doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. One exciting thing about this trend is that it couples well with the rising popularity of wine cocktails like spritzers.

So, how can you make this trend work for your wine store? Consider curating a selection of sparkling wines that cater to different tastes and budgets. Promote them, not just for celebrations, but as versatile options for everyday enjoyment.

You can also create social media content or in-store displays that inspire customers to explore sparkling wine cocktail recipes. And don't forget to keep an eye out for emerging sparkling wine styles that might just steal the spotlight.

2. Unique Style Blends

Another recent trend in the wine industry is the rise of unique style blends.

Thanks to factors like climate change, hybrid grape varieties are growing in number and popularity. While these new grapes won't make it into wines and onto shelves for a few years, it's an emerging trend worth watching.

Additionally, there's a growing fascination with blends that defy traditional categorization. Think reds that are crisper than a typical red wine but not quite a rosé. As a wine shop owner, consider exploring and introducing these unique style blends to your customers.

Showcase the innovative winemaking techniques and the stories behind these wines. Create tasting events or promotions centered around these intriguing blends, inviting your customers on a journey of discovery.

3. Non-Alcoholic Options

Health and wellness has been trending for several years, and that trend has made its way into the wine industry with consumers looking for low- or no-alcohol wine options. This shift is particularly noticeable among the newly-legal-drinking-age Gen Z, a generation that tends to moderate alcohol intake more than older generations.

Additionally, restaurants are increasingly expanding their low- and no-alcohol offerings to cater to health-conscious or sober diners. As a wine shop owner, you can tap into this trend by curating a selection of high-quality non-alcoholic wines.

Highlight their unique flavors and characteristics, making them a tempting alternative for customers looking to experience wine without the alcohol content. Consider hosting educational sessions or tastings to showcase the richness of non-alcoholic options.

4. E-Commerce Wine Orders

E-commerce for alcohol, once considered a novelty, has blossomed into a significant trend. This transformation, accelerated by the lockdowns of 2020, shows no signs of slowing down.

Embrace this trend by investing in a user-friendly and secure online platform for your wine store. Ensure that your website is a digital storefront and a valuable resource for customers, featuring detailed wine descriptions, food pairing suggestions, and customer reviews.

You can also leverage social media and email marketing to drive traffic to your e-commerce site. Offer exclusive online promotions or wine club memberships to incentivize online purchases.

5. Emerging Regions

Finally, you’ll want to keep an eye on emerging regions. While the old guard of wine regions will always stand the test of time, the spotlight is increasingly shifting to emerging wine regions.

Some ancient wine cultures are re-emerging with wines from Hungary, Armenia, Slovenia, Georgia, and Greece making waves. Additionally, the Maremma region is emerging as an underrated gem in Tuscany.

For domestic wines, look to the Finger Lakes region, which is gaining recognition alongside stalwarts like Sonoma, Napa, and Willamette Valley. As a wine shop owner, consider dedicating a section of your store to wines from these emerging regions to tap into this trend.

Leverage Wine Trends for Maximum Sales!

Following wine trends is a great way to stay in tune with what your customers want and to ensure your store offers the wines your customers will be excited to try.

But how can you consistently identify emerging trends in the ever-changing wine industry? It’s simple: Invest in a strong point of sale (POS) system with powerful analytics and reporting tools.

When you invest in a point of sale system like Bottle POS with the capability of tracking sales patterns, you can identify seasonal shifts, pick out top-sellers, and weed out the products that are gathering dust on your shelves.

Schedule a free demo of Bottle POS today to see our solution in action and discover if it’s the right solution for your store!

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