Wine trends to look out for in 2022

​It’s indeed a bit queer that there can be anything trendy about wine – a drink that has been with us for centuries long before any of us writing were even born. However, this doesn’t stop us from reflecting on the current state of the industry and what is pushing players in the trade to go beyond the norm?
Remember, trends come and go, but movements shape our future. With input from wine professionals locally and across the world, our list of the best wine trends right now showcases a handful of both.
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More rosé wine please…

​This millennial pink-hued wine has surged in popularity over the recent years. With most of the rose’ blends coming from Grenache grapes (others being Syrah, Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carignan), rosé resembles a profile of a light red wine, but with brighter and crisper tasting notes. This has many of its fans describing it as the drink of the future – a little bit of celery, melon, flowers, citrus and strawberry.
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Solo Wine Brands

In the future, you don’t really have to own an entire vineyard to produce stunning wines. A new maverick winemaker is coming our way, one who uses grapes from their small cottage farm or a combination of grapes from different farms to produce their own private label in small batches. This may be an experimental idea for domestic use offering something unique and exciting to home wine drinkers.
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Lets go Local…

​In the aftermath of the pandemic, there may be a return in focus to everything local as a collective move to boost local consumption and trade. This is obviously easier said than done.
With the existence of our very own vineyards in Kenya for instance (Leleshwa winery) and some aggressive publicity, people will begin to appreciate the gems right on our doorstep. All it takes is a renewed appreciation for local enterprises or at least the need to expose them a little more.
Other exciting trends we can list out include:

• Alcohol-free wine
• Canned wine (Especially in Kenya check this article out).
• Virtual wine tastings
• Wine picnics
• Experimenting other sparkling wine categories e.g. Cap Classique (South Africa), Prosecco (Italy), Cava (Spain).