Feb
14
Written by:
John Gerum
2/14/2009 10:29 AM
2008 has quickly come and gone, and economically things sure are different than
the start of the year. Many factors are involved in the changing world of wine
and no one can predict the future. Here are some trends that I have noted
throughout the last year that may continue in 2009.
The first trend that
began a few years ago in BC wines is the emergence of top quality blended red
wines. Varietal wines, once the darling of the Okanagan wine scene, are
beginning to loose their lustre. Bordeaux blends such as
Osoyoos Larose,
Laughing Stock Portfolio and
Herder Vineyards
Josephine have raised the bar and other wineries are following suit and
creating their own blended wines.
Jackson Triggs Proprietors' Grand
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon- Shiraz is a strong candidate to rival the
Australians' favourite blend of red grapes.
Road 13's Fifth
Element is a blended Bordeaux wine that includes Syrah (hence the fifth
element) that in my opinion is one of the best reds in the Okanagan at a
reasonable price point.
I have always been a fan of value wines, those
beauties that taste like $25 but sell for $15. In these economic times value
wines will be even more important as consumers squeeze every dollar from their
dwindling budgets. In this light I will continue to focus and review those wines
that deliver the maximum bang for the buck in 2009.
As we focus on the
dollar, let us not lose sight of the ecological movement and climate change.
Supporting wines and wineries that focus on green friendly issues will shape the
future for our planet and wine consumers. Some wineries such as Wolf Blass have
introduced plastic bottles that save on shipping weight, but the sales of these
wines have been quite slow so wineries are introducing glass bottles which weigh
one third to one half less than conventional glass wine bottles. Organic wines
are also worthy of our support given that the quality and price are in line with
our financial expectations. The ideal wine of the future may be the light
weight, organic value wine!
Unusual varietals may become popular as wine
consumers are becoming more educated and are seeking new wine experiences.
Varietals that are hot include, Petit Verdot, Petit Syrah, and a white from
Australia named Grüner Veltliner also known as Gru-V. Other hot varietals
include Gewürztraminer, Viognier, Grenache and Malbec.
I see life and
wine generally as always half full instead of half empty. When times get tough
you do whatever you have to do to make it. If you can't afford store bought
wines make your own and beat the taxman! Go to Alberta and take advantage of
their cheaper pricing for wines, or it may be a good time to talk to your local
MPP to reduce the 117% tax we all pay on wine. Cheers and best wishes to you
all for a healthy and happy 2009!