5 Beer and Wine Trends for 2018
By Steve Holtz on Mar. 20, 2018AUSTIN, Texas -- Upscale grocer Whole Foods Market’s team of beer, wine and spirits experts has released its forecast for 2018’s front-running alcohol-beverage trends. The list is highlighted by a renewed interest in lighter-bodied beers, along with an emergence of hard seltzers and packaged wine spritzers.
“We predict our shoppers will continue to look for a mix of high quality and great value as they stock up on their favorite beers and wines,” said Devon Broglie, master sommelier and global beverage buyer for Whole Foods Market. “Look for more boxed-wine options and an emergence of 15-pack canned beers.”
Here's a look at the leading trends in the category ...
1. Lighter-bodied brews
Beer lovers are putting down the hoppy IPAs in favor of lighter tastes. Mexican imports such as Tecate and Modelo are part of the fast-growing imported-beer segment, partly because they pair well with the ever-evolving and always popular taco. But sessionable brews—those that are lower in alcohol and often lower in price than their heavier craft counterparts—are also rising to the top as consumers move toward simple and lighter-bodied beers.
2. Hard seltzers
Sparkling water is having a moment. And in 2018, the spotlight will shine on its bubbly cousin: hard seltzer. Hard seltzers allow consumers to toast their daily accomplishments and big wins with natural, refreshing drinks, the Whole Foods team said. The combination of fewer calories and alluring bubbles will make hard seltzers like White Claw a winning beverage choice for the year.
3. Spritzers beyond sangria
Prepackaged cocktails and wine spritzers will steal the show at get-togethers in 2018, Whole Foods predicts. Beyond staples such as sangria and margaritas, new options are designed to mimic classic cocktails. These include Ramona, a Sicilian ruby grapefruit wine spritzer, and Hoxie Spritzer, a wine spritzer from Southern California.
4. Bourbon barrel-aged wines
The bourbon-barrel-aged trend is showing up in restaurants, specialty foods and snacks, but it’s not entirely new to the wine scene. This year, bourbon-barrel-aged wines are coming into their own, and consumers are already embracing the trend with palate-pleasing wines such as Cooper & Thief and The Federalist. Bourbon distilleries are required to use each barrel only once, so these wineries are repurposing barrels and reaping the benefits of bold, rich flavors left behind.
5. Alternative packaging
Canned wine had its coming-out party in 2017, highlighting a trend toward alternative packaging designed for convenience and value that’s not slowing down. Whole Foods expects price-conscious shoppers to look for alternative packaging in the wine and spirits category this year.
- Larger, 1.5-liter magnum wine bottles can offer a better value, without sacrificing quality, and are more functional for larger dinner parties.
- The growing selection of cans makes it easy to bring wine to the next tailgate party.
- Traditional glass bottles can be heavy and easily broken, and the emergence of plastic wine bottles allows active wine drinkers to pack a nice merlot while adventuring outside.