Trends and Style

Written by Peter Rockwell | 18 February 2010

I like drinking on the cutting edge. What’s going to be the next big grape trend?

I’ve rubbed my crystal ball and, believe it or not, when it comes to red fruit it predicts that Shiraz/Syrah (a grape so nice they named it twice) will shine in 2010. I know what you’re thinking — what’s so hip about a grape that’s been used and abused by Down Under winemakers for the last twenty years? Well, here’s the deal: The wines from the southern (which blend with Syrah) and northern (where Syrah is king) Rhône Valley have been the only things close to cool coming out of France in recent memory and consumers should finally take notice early in the New Year.

Also, great price-fighting versions of S/S from Chile, Argentina and South Africa will be invading your local liquor stores in the coming months and that will set the stage for the grape’s second act. The juice of the Iberian Peninsula has potential as well. While Spain’s Tempranillo and Portugal’s Touriga Nacional are as old as dirt, they are just now being discovered by the masses.

On the whiter side, my money is on Riesling to make its long overdue comeback official by next spring. Thankfully today’s generation of wine drinkers — too young to remember the days when a sappy sweet German Riesling was the tipple of the day — taste the versatility they find in their glasses. Sure, the Germans are sharing in Riesling’s return but what’s really turning everyone’s corkscrew are drier versions from the likes of New Zealand, Australia and Canada, which are super food-friendly while also offering more than enough personality to stand alone.

My second runner-up is Viognier. A fragrant, spicy berry that has transcended its French homeland to become a major player across the New World — both on its own and in unique blends with both white and red grapes.