• Rise in sparkling wine consumption

It is no secret to anyone that the 2021 harvest in Europe was brutal. As a result of the extreme weather that brought frost, hail, fires and floods, grape production was totally affected. Especially the Champagne region, where they lost more than half of their grapes. How will this affect the consumer? As of 2022, the shortage of Champagne and other classics such as Burgundy and Bordeaux are expected to rise in value noticeably. Thus, the inability to pay for this type of wine will cause consumers to go in search of other types of bubbles, prompting the revival of Cava and an increase in the consumption of Crémants and sparkling wines from countries such as South Africa and Chile. Casillero del Diablo Devil’s Collection Brut, made using the Charmat method based on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the Limarí Valley, is a sparkling wine whose minerality is noticeable at first glance. Ideal to toast with a touch of glamour and distinction, rising as an excellent option among Chilean sparkling wines.

 

• Wines from new or unknown regions

The global wine shortage will be one of the great challenges in 2022. It is expected that consumers will have no choice but to raise their radar and start trying wines from unknown and less traditional regions. In Italy, for example, sparkling wines from Umbria, Puglia and Campania have already carved out a space for themselves in the market, while countries such as Slovenia and Switzerland are also beginning to make a name for themselves among the new producing areas.

In Chile, meanwhile, studies continue in search of new possibilities for the production of wine grapes. A project developed by the Agricultural Research Institute (INIA), has just presented the results of Keóken: the southernmost wine in the world. Made and bottled at latitude 46°32′ South of Chilean Patagonia, in the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varieties, this project is the result of a research that seeks to extend the offer of Chilean viticulture to the extreme south of the country. Another terroir among the southernmost wine-growing areas of Chile is the Bio Bío Valley.

There, in the Quitralmán vineyard, grow the grapes that give rise to Marques de Casa Concha Limited Edition Chardonnay 2018. A wine worth tasting.

 

• Lightweight wine bottles

Another of the predictions for this 2022 is closely related to one of the great problems in the world today: the limitations of the supply chain. This fact would be accelerating many projects that, in turn, seek to reduce the emission of the carbon footprint. It is about the development of new wine packaging or much lighter glass bottles. Due to the high carbon emissions produced by the production of glass, in addition to its shipment and transfer abroad, the development of much lighter bottles is urgent. In addition, by the way, alternative packaging such as cardboard boxes, plastic bottles or cans, in various sizes, that do not affect the quality of the wine and that help to substantially reduce the carbon footprint of a wine.

 

• More sustainable wines and practices

Sustainability in all its areas is another trend that awaits the wine industry. In both human and environmental terms, consumers have become more responsible for their choices. Which would translate into an increasing interest in environmentally conscious brands that invest in the well-being of their employees. According to the annual predictions for 2022 recently published by Wine Intelligence, this trend will hit especially on the luxury wine sector, “who will have to show that it is sustainable to appeal to younger consumers. Gran Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2021, from the Ucúquer vineyard in Colchagua Valley, is precisely one of the wines in Gran Reserva portfolio that is made under sustainable practices.

They have the GREEN-E® ENERGY certification for the use of renewable energies, are made with a water footprint that is 22% lower than the average FOR wines in the world and, in addition, in alliance with the Forest Stewardship Council ® (FSC) as part of a native forest conservation program. Undoubtedly a great alternative among wines that protect and care for biodiversity and natural resources.