The Wine List

What wine are we drinking in 2021?

Christian Griffioen of The Wine List makes six predictions for the coming wine year.

Rose Provence

DATE

27 January 2021

TEXT

Christian Griffin

IMAGE

PR

The Wine List

What wine are we drinking in 2021?

Christian Griffioen of The Wine List makes six predictions for the coming wine year.

1. Less but better

primitivo wine list

Tormaresca Torcicoda Primitivo. Verdict De Grote Hamersma: 9. 'Full-bodied, ripe, supple, soft and pleasant as the southern Italian sun on a late summer afternoon. Smokiness as of fine tea. Tobacco leaf. Earthy notes. Spicy, plump red fruit and a pleasant peppery finish. Primitivo with depth'.

Chris Griffin

Christian Griffin

Christian Griffin of The Wine List: "A clear trend for 2021: average price rises, but volume falls. In the past three years, nearly 18 million bottles less on the Dutch market. So fewer drinking occasions, but generally better wines. Good news for wine lovers, the wine trade and wine producers."

2. Party wine

"I expect more small parties this summer, but big ones. Wines may also cost more: luxury bottles of champagne and rosé from Provence.”

3. Provence rosé branding a la Champagne

"We just said it: Provence rosé gets the starring role in 2021. As with champagne, these bottles get a lot of attention on Instagram from celebrities - whether or not they own a chateau. Meanwhile, the luxury group Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy - which bought a majority stake in the iconic rosé estate Chateau d'Esclans at the end of 2019 - is working on a top-notch rosé, but above all on their 'branding'."

4. Single-vineyard wines

Antinori wine list

Griffin: 'The grapes for this cru are grown on the terraces below the village of 'Montepulciano'. The unique soil combination of stones and sand found here create a classic and very elegant expression of Sangiovese from this historic area'

"Single Vineyard" (literally: from one vineyard) is becoming a trend. The most sought-after Single Vineyard wines are scarce, so expensive and hard to come by. There are thousands of so-called 'Single Vineyard wines' on the market where this appellation means nothing, so some knowledge is a requirement here, although google can certainly help."

5. Diversity

Caroline Frey

Winemaker Caroline Frey.

"Previously, wine production was a 'white, old men's' stronghold, but thankfully that has changed a lot in recent years. Women, colour and young are the future." One example, according to Griffoen, is Swiss winemaker Caroline Frey. Besides owning one of the finest vineyards in the Champagne region and a shareholder in the prestigious Maison Billecart-Salmon champagne house, the Frey family also owns Château La Lagune in Haut-Médoc. Eldest daughter Caroline made her first wine from Château La Lagune in 2004. Today, she is ultimately responsible for the wines of Château La Lagune and, together with Frederic Jaboulet, for the wines of Paul Jaboulet Aîné.

6. No more 'second bottle free' or '50% discount'

"I reread my 2019 prediction, which included this one back then. But now it is actually going to happen: from 1 July 2021, there will be a maximum of 25% discount on alcohol. This measure will have a major impact on the business model of many wineries and suppliers."

www.winelist.nl

 

date 27 January 2021
text Christian Griffin image PR

1. Less but better

primitivo wine list

Tormaresca Torcicoda Primitivo. Verdict De Grote Hamersma: 9. 'Full-bodied, ripe, supple, soft and pleasant as the southern Italian sun on a late summer afternoon. Smokiness as of fine tea. Tobacco leaf. Earthy notes. Spicy, plump red fruit and a pleasant peppery finish. Primitivo with depth'.

Chris Griffin

Christian Griffin

Christian Griffin of The Wine List: "A clear trend for 2021: average price rises, but volume falls. In the past three years, nearly 18 million bottles less on the Dutch market. So fewer drinking occasions, but generally better wines. Good news for wine lovers, the wine trade and wine producers."

2. Party wine

"I expect more small parties this summer, but big ones. Wines may also cost more: luxury bottles of champagne and rosé from Provence.”

3. Provence rosé branding a la Champagne

"We just said it: Provence rosé gets the starring role in 2021. As with champagne, these bottles get a lot of attention on Instagram from celebrities - whether or not they own a chateau. Meanwhile, the luxury group Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy - which bought a majority stake in the iconic rosé estate Chateau d'Esclans at the end of 2019 - is working on a top-notch rosé, but above all on their 'branding'."

4. Single-vineyard wines

Antinori wine list

Griffin: 'The grapes for this cru are grown on the terraces below the village of 'Montepulciano'. The unique soil combination of stones and sand found here create a classic and very elegant expression of Sangiovese from this historic area'

"Single Vineyard" (literally: from one vineyard) is becoming a trend. The most sought-after Single Vineyard wines are scarce, so expensive and hard to come by. There are thousands of so-called 'Single Vineyard wines' on the market where this appellation means nothing, so some knowledge is a requirement here, although google can certainly help."

5. Diversity

Caroline Frey

Winemaker Caroline Frey.

"Previously, wine production was a 'white, old men's' stronghold, but thankfully that has changed a lot in recent years. Women, colour and young are the future." One example, according to Griffoen, is Swiss winemaker Caroline Frey. Besides owning one of the finest vineyards in the Champagne region and a shareholder in the prestigious Maison Billecart-Salmon champagne house, the Frey family also owns Château La Lagune in Haut-Médoc. Eldest daughter Caroline made her first wine from Château La Lagune in 2004. Today, she is ultimately responsible for the wines of Château La Lagune and, together with Frederic Jaboulet, for the wines of Paul Jaboulet Aîné.

6. No more 'second bottle free' or '50% discount'

"I reread my 2019 prediction, which included this one back then. But now it is actually going to happen: from 1 July 2021, there will be a maximum of 25% discount on alcohol. This measure will have a major impact on the business model of many wineries and suppliers."

www.winelist.nl