This Year, In Wine

2013 Wine Trends

It’s the end of January, and I’m looking at the rest of 2013 with high hopes and some trepidation.

I have some wine thoughts about the year we’ve just begun, and I’d like to share with you.
What I expect from the wine world:

-Prices of European wines to rise with the loss of recent crops due to poor weather conditions in Europe.

-Increase of consumer’s awareness and desire for wines from Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, etc. I think in the absence of a good crop, we’ll see more people trying to find what they can afford- and they will find great alternatives in quality, and hence, value.

What we can hope to see in 2013:

-Improvement in container options (Yes, I love bottles for aging, pouring, and storing. But there really should be a better way!)

-More use of alternative wine closures. I love the increased use of synthetic corks and twist-off caps. I’ve not  had a Zork in my house yet but Modus Operandi Cellars, a great, small Napa Winemaker, uses the Vino-Seal on select wines. I have come to adore this closure method and want to see its success on red wines.

Here’s a great link if you’ve never seen a Vino-Seal or a Zork:

What I’d like to see happen, but probably won’t: (please prove me wrong!) 

-I’d like to see top rated wines be available to the general public. And by available, I mean within financial reach. Currently, many vineyards are impossible to afford or even find unless you are a multimillionaire (or you’d rather drink that one bottle than drive a car or own a home. Priorities, people?)

-I’d like to see affordable high end wines get some level of aging and certification of their storage and heritage. No one wants a  Kurwinian forgery, but I’m just looking for decent, good value wines with some age, depth, and structure that I can really enjoy and share with friends. Is it too much to ask for a bottle of ‘second wine’ from a top producer  to have ten years of proper storage and cost under $100, with some certification?

So, a toast! Here’s to enjoying great wine with friends in 2013. And thanks for your continued support of JvBUnCorked!

à votre santé!