Trends today are crazy, therefore fun. Here is my list of things I think will be big or bigger in 2025. I break down some of the wine trends that are happening – many are already here and are paving the way for a disruptive next year.

There is no doubt that the global pandemic has affected the way we shop, think and drink wine. Falling volumes, the global economic uncertainty, the growth in e-commerce, the "Buy less, buy better" feeling is in full swing among consumers, especially the younger generation of wine drinkers, and the trend for low-alcohol wines or completely alcohol-free also began to be seen a few years ago.

I have reviewed key trends for 2025 from international wine organizations, wine experts and the media and compiled some of them – these trends are currently shaping the global wine landscape.

Getting your money's worth in wine is a difficult art for the most enlightened amateur in the best of circumstances. So how do you avoid going broke and still drink good stuff in a rising market fueled by mass buying at a time of general inflation. All you need is imagination, an insider's grasp of the market´s workings and an encyclopedic knowledge of the vineyards.

That sounds forbidding enough to turn off the most fervent of oenophiles, but the secrets of the market, where and how to look for quality bargains, are not that mysterious. Turn to substitute wines that can often pass for more renowned and expensive growths. I´ll give you a few hints on where to start looking for inexpensive substitutes.

Major wine regions saw a post-pandemic increase in wine drinkers of younger adults under the age of 34 – but they drink less wine per occasion, have high levels of moderation and are less brand loyal. In short, they buy less but better.

Even during the pandemic saw an impressive increase in demand for fine wines. So moderation in drinking, one thinks more healthily and younger people buy less, but buy better. Falling volumes perhaps but also a rising premiumisation of quality wines.

Every year I point out the Wine Region of the year and now it's time to focus on Montsant and Priorat. These two neighboring wine regions produce world-class red and white wines. Much will happen around the theme of Montsant/Priorat during the year and I will start by introducing these wine regions in brief terms. For those of you who are not familiar with the wines of Montsant/Priorat but are looking for exciting wines with great flavor complexity, then these areas are nothing less than a treasure chest. Many producers in the two appellations stick to their unique grapes but invest in modern wines that at the same time keep a foot in tradition. Here I find a veritable treasure hide with some of the world's most complex grapes.

As everywhere in Piedmont, you are struck in Barbaresco by the pride of the people who dedicated their lives to tending the vines and producing the wine that took generations to develop and perfect. Regardless of whether you talk to Angelo Gaja, the great son of the place, innovator and entrepreneur, or the small-scale grower with a few single hectares, there is always a humility, yes, almost reverent respect for the task of managing and refining the vineyard you have been privileged to cultivate. Even Georgio Rivetti, the charismatic frontman of the super producer La Spinetta, emphasized the importance of terroir rather than his own effort.

I truly want to encourage people in Italy and overseas to discover this extraordinary white wine with a strong character. Nas-cëtta is the symbol of the small terroir of Novello and of the conservation of the Langhe wine-growing culture, an essential element in protecting an area considered one of the most fascinating in the world. Nascetta, the new old grape that is creating more and more interest.

Nascetta is an Italian grape variety that began to be cultivated 140 years ago. After falling into oblivion for a number of years, it is now generating increasing interest. From the Italian wine regions, we are used to finding many gems on the wine shelves. Wine connoisseurs often mention nebbiolovin or moscato wines from the Piedmont region. But there is a great deal more to be gained from this area. In recent years, some of the more unusual grape varieties have begun to compete with the more well-known varieties. One of the varieties that has seen a resurgence in recent times is Nascetta. Nascetta is a semi-aromatic green grape originating from the village of Novello. Historical writings mention the grape as early as the 1870s, when the unique taste of the grape gave ideas about wines that could be produced. The wine industry believed for a period that the grape was related to the sardonic grape Nasco, but this has since been disproved. Nascetta is a grape variety that demands a portion of its producer. The grape variety thrives in soil consisting of sand and limestone. The buds bloom in June and the grapes are harvested at the end of September. However, you only get one bunch of grapes from each branch. Thus, the grape requires large areas to be able to generate more extensive quantities. This fact has contributed to the production of wines being less extensive in periods. During the war years, production basically stopped completely.

In recent years, the majority of producers have started experimenting with the grape variety to see how it comes to its best. You can find wines that have pronounced herbal and citrus notes, but you will also find more tropical fruit notes in more mature varieties. You will also perceive sage and rosemary in some Nascetta wines. Nascetta is good to drink immediately, but it also works well to store. If you take out a bottle that has been sitting for a couple of years, it will taste just as good as when you bought it.

First, the taste of white wines became fresher, and now red wines follow that trend in its tracks. Both the taste and the alcohol content should preferably be lighter than before, and the red wine can be served chilled. The trend with light and fresh wines is partly due to the fact that the flavors in the food have generally become lighter and vegetarian dishes are now standard on the menu. Changes in food trends are directly reflected in the demand for white wines. White wine is often also served with cuisines other than European - for example with dishes inspired by Korea, Vietnam, the Middle East or North Africa.

Elegant Pinot Noir has long been a trendy variety. Other lighter blue grape varieties that are increasingly appreciated are, for example, Gamay from Beaujolais and Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt from Austria.

Lambrusco from Emilia-Romagna, at the heart of Italian food culture, is also becoming trendy. The style of lambrusco varies, but the wine is often red, light, sparkling, fruity and low in sugar. Chilled lambrusco is perfect to serve, for example, with Italian appetizers, antipasti. One aspect that contributes to the popularity of the relatively light red wines is that they work so well at the dinner table: they do not overpower delicate flavors, but also go well with vegetarian dishes.