Wine consumption habits have changed a lot: today we are more likely to buy lighter, fruity red wines

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 12. 18. 11:08

A bottle of excellent red wine, which goes well with a variety of Christmas dishes, cannot be missing from the festive table. However, the tastes of consumers have changed a lot in recent years, instead of full-bodied, heavy red wines, they are now looking for fruity, lighter items – says Antal Benesch, chief winemaker of the Veszprém Érseki Pincészet.

“Consumers nowadays are looking for very high-quality, lighter red wines, in which the emphasis is on fruitiness, not on tannins or barrels. Instead of heavy, full-bodied red wines, they prefer to buy easy-to-drink items”

– says Antal Benesch, chief winemaker of the Veszprém Érseki Pincészet, about the changes in wine consumption habits in recent years. They have changed a lot in the past two decades – white wines have become more popular, while red wine production has fallen by 25 percent worldwide since the record in 2004. It is true that demand has declined primarily in Europe, while red wines have become more popular in China, the United States, Russia and Brazil.

The most popular varieties are cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah and pinot noir – the latter is gaining ground in many wine-producing regions, such as California and New Zealand. “But why is pinot noir so popular?” – this is the question asked by several wine magazines in recent years. According to experts, pinot noir stands out among red varieties primarily for its versatility, as it goes well with a wide variety of dishes – light red meats, beef and game dishes – and is much lighter than full-bodied red wines, such as cabernet sauvignon or merlot.