Predictions 2014

Every year, new trends pop up and every year they change, grow, evolve or die. 2013 personally I saw red blends, old world wines, example Chateauneuf Du Pape, Spanish Rioja, Rhone and Bordeaux make huge jumps in world popularity. Rioja was ranked 2013 Wine Spectators #1 wine, 2014 will be no different, new popularity of different wines will start to show, another number 1 will be crowned and craft beers and spirits, farm to table, locally sourced ingredients, the expansion of the mind will start to happen and curiosity will take over. Questioning the ideology that the best wines can only come from certain regions will be put to the test. New American wines gaining ground, becoming more accessible will take place all over the country, with states like the Virginia's, New York, Texas and Idaho leading the way, producing smaller unknown grape varietals and thrusting them forward into the masses. Larger names such as Duckhorn and the Jackson family known for their ever popular "Kendall Jackson" wines are setting up stakes in other states like Washington and Oregon according to different sources. We will see the growth of sustainable, organic, bio-dynamic, microbial farming practices with production already taking place that will be another thing people will look towards while looking over wine lists in restaurants. Is it locally sourced? Will be the question you ask your server when asking about the veg on the dish. In London instead of the 2 meat and veg it will be reversed, 2 veg and meat will be the new popular way of thinking, Eastern Europe like Solvania and Bulgaria will modernize wine production creating great affordable wines, with Spain doing the same do to a crumbling economy.  The prediction of Chardonnay being the varietal come back made by the Washington Post was interesting to me considering Chardonnay is the most widely drank grape in the U.S. so to see what will happen is something to watch out for. According to WP American, New Zealand and Australian vintners say they have the right clones and the right vines. Don't count South America though, Argentina, Chile and even Brazil will come with some heat this year, with that being said I think a Chateauneuf De Pape will be the #1 wine for 2014, we will just have to wait and see.