Predicting the future is a tough business, but here are some things to look out for in the wine world in 2020, from specific wine trends to bigger issues affecting the market.

 

Prosecco rosé on the cards?

 

This fusion of two big trends could become official in 2020, following a lengthy approval process in Italy.

 

UK supplier Bibendum predicted in its own 2020 trends report that the first bottles could be hitting the market before the end of the year.

 

Producers would be able to use up to 15% of Pinot Noir alongside Glera grapes in order to make rosé under the Prosecco DOC name.

 

Styles on the rise: From appassimento to vegan

 

Expect rosé to continue to gain more plaudits generally as a ‘serious’ wine. Moët Hennessy’s deal to buy control of Château d’Esclans, maker of Whispering Angel, should bring more exposure to higher-end rosés.

 

Majestic Wine in the UK said recently that sales of ‘appassimento’ wines from Italy had nearly doubled and were taking share from easy-drinking Malbec wines.

 

It also pointed to a resurgence in popularity of oaked Chardonnay wines, which is an interesting counter-point to efforts by many winemakers to reduce overbearing oak influence on wines in recent years.

 

Both Majestic and major UK supplier Bibendum have highlighted Austrian wines as a potential dark horse of the market.

 

‘Austria may be best-known for its Grüner Veltliner, but other indigenous grapes, like Blaufränkisch, Zweigelt and Saint Laurent, as well as Austrian Sparkling, are starting to gain in popularity,’ said Bibendum in a report on drinks trends for 2020.

 

You should also expect to see more vegan stickers on bottle labels and retailer websites in 2020. For example, Majestic said in November 2019 that it stocked 200 wines listed as vegan, versus 39 a year earlier.