So Much To Look Forward To!

As we move into 2006, I thought it would be fun to pull out the ol’ crystal ball and see what wine lovers might have to look forward to in the coming year.

Wine has officially passed beer as the most popular alcoholic beverage in the United States. Given this growing popularity, wine drinkers can expect to see more and more marketing of their new favorite beverage. Expect flashier labels, more advertising, and more niche marketing as wineries try to appeal to women, seniors, new drinkers, and those who are just discovering wine.

Wine lovers can also expect to see their favorite wines in different and more convenient packaging. Expect to see more and more fine wines using screw caps instead of corks. Box wines will not necessarily be bulk produced wines, as some better wines decide to give the box package a try.

Also look for more of your favorite wine available in single servings as the idea of convenience also hits home for the wine market.

The availability of diverse and delicious wine should also continue to grow in 2006. Well-made and moderately priced wines from Spain and South Africa made a strong impression in 2005. Look for quality wines from Portugal to continue this trend in 2006.

It is truly a world economy for wine, and the availability of tasty wines at good prices will continue unabated as long as wine drinkers do not limit themselves to one particular grape or region.

While the prestigious wine regions of the world will continue to charge top dollar for their wines, every winemaking country in the world will also provide wines that are less well-known, lower priced and great for every day drinking.

The world of wine has truly exploded over the last few years. The discriminating wine drinker has more options and choices than ever. These choices clearly make 2006 a wine vintage of extraordinary promise.

(Newtown resident and wine enthusiast Steve Small is the general manager at Yankee Wine & Spirits on Queen Street.)