The Next Big Thing In Wine

Let us take you on an adventure into lands unknown with fresh grapes to quench your thirst with. We explore new and newly delineated wine growing regions that are charting their own styles and winning over fans.

- June Lee

Once upon a time, vinophiles were characteristically divided into Old World and New World wine drinkers. Strictly geographic, these distinctions referred to the traditional winegrowing areas in Europe and everywhere else, respectively. Today, style is the most common denominator in deciding what you want to drink – whether an ‘Old World’ style Pinot Noir with lighter body, herb and mineral nuances, or a ‘New World’ style Pinot Noir with fruity, full-bodied extraction, for example. But these are not necessarily made in their traditional territories anymore, and the new generation of wine drinkers is increasingly looking around for novel experiences.

Dr. Jackie Ang, founder of Cherwell Wine & Spirits consultancy and a Stage 2 Master of Wine candidate, explains why his fellow millennials might be more willing to look beyond the beaten track. He says, “New, up and coming regions often have unique local grape varieties, different from the norm with flavours not found in international varieties. And there is also the ability to explore the terroirs not seen in classic regions – for instance, extreme viticulture in Salta or Patagonia, or volcanic soils in Etna and Basilicata.” Ang also points out that younger drinkers may find better value in these wines, as lesser commercial demand means they generally don’t yet command the higher prices of established grapes or regions.

As a wine educator, he is also encouraged by the increasing levels of knowledge and curiosity displayed by new wine drinkers. This is echoed in the way winemakers are seeking out new regions, driven sometimes by lower cost but mainly by global warming. Ang sees that even the largest companies, such as LVMH in Yunnan or De Martino in Chilean Patagonia, are moving into fresh regions – an investment that will take several decades to establish results.