Springtime is like the impatient little kid, buckled in the back seat during a long drive, pulling fruitlessly at the seat belt strap while their feet kick air, repeatedly asking, “Are we there yet?” It’s an anxious season. People are anxious to feel the sun and refill their stock of Vitamin D. Buried seedlings are anxious to flower and bloom. And wine drinkers are anxious to shake off weighty winter reds in favor of light flavors and bright wines. Read more
Like all of us, 2017 was a complicated year for wine. Drought and the tragic wild fires that burned through northern California and its vineyards left a raw edge on an other wise successful year for the wine segment. Shaken, but not defeated, what is on the horizon for 2018 wine trends? Let’s take a look at which trends will open up, breath, and come to maturity in 2018. Read more
Do you change your wine menu seasonally? If you change your food menu each season to utilize fresh and timely ingredients, you can really elevate the guest experience at your restaurant by pairing new wines with your new food menu. The most innovative and exciting restaurants always consider how to create a cohesive experience for their guests. Rotating your wine menu is a great way to do this. Here are some of the big wine trends that we are excited for this spring. Read more
Let’s dust off our crystal ball and take a glimpse into the (very) near-future of wine.
To start, I’d like to say that it is a really exciting time for wine right now. And though 2015 saw a -4.1 percent decline in sales volume for wine in bars and restaurant — 2016’s sales numbers are likely to echo 2015’s disappointments — wine is thriving in retail sales.
There is also a lot of excitement over the direction that influential restaurants and sommeliers are taking wine experiences in restaurants. The past couple years have given us some big stories: the revelation of rosé and its insane growth; the coming-out of Spanish wines like Tempranillo, or the continued blossoming of the South American wine industry; and the obsession with millennials impact on wine crystallizing into the overstated maxim that”Millennials are Changing Wine.”
There are factors aside from just millennials that really are changing wine. Let’s take a look at what those might be and see the Wine Trends for 2017.
One thing we like doing here at Uncorkd is looking at beverage data. Across our platform we have valuable and actionable intelligence on what’s happening on menus across the country. We provide this data to our clients to improve their beverage program and increase sales. Today I took a look at what percentage of a menu contains different types of wines and how does that change by type of establishment. So let’s start with some trivia…
What percentage of a wine list is white wine vs. red wine?
How does the makeup of a wine list differ between independent and chain restaurants, hotels, casinos and private clubs?
Trying to keeping pace with the wine market can make you dizzy. Parsing between trends and fads, personal taste and market preference; it’s enough to make you pour a glass for yourself. For many customers, wine can be intimidating and confusing, but it’s also ever-present and familiar. Modernizing a wine program can be just as confusing but necessary. As a restaurant operator, you have to step outside your comfort zone and update your wine program to make sure your menus excite and appeal to your guests.
But where to start when you’re updating your wine list? Well, we’ll help you out.
These 5 areas of your wine program and operations are prime places to make changes. These changes are simple to implement, and they will do wonders to modernize your program. Read more
For the past few years, natural wine has been pegged as the “the next big thing” in the wine world. But natural wines haven’t had their moment in the spotlight. In the first two months of 2016, there has been a lot of coverage and discussion of natural wines, as they seem to be making more of push nationally. Will 2016 be the year of natural wines? Will 2015’s Brosé be replaced by Bro Naturel? Here’s what you should know about natural wine if you’re contemplating putting it on your menu. Read more
Ah, we’re still in the middle of winter and restaurant traffic has slowed down from the holidays. The dust has settled from January and it’s time to start making some changes to your beverage menus. But what new wines should you add to your wine list? What are the latest craft beers trending on beer lists? And what are some interesting spirits that restaurants have been adding behind the bar? We have the answers and some ideas for new additions to your menus. Read more
Every Friday Uncorkd compiles the most recent restaurant and beverage industry stories that had us talking. Here’s our list of must-read articles from the web this week. Featuring billion dollar deals, vodka’s popularity, a sommelier’s case for the next big grape, and a new type of restaurant position. Here are the can’t miss news stories from January 16th-22nd Read more
It’s that time of year again. We dust off our crystal balls and look ahead to the new year and predict what fun awaits us after winter. Last week, we looked at cocktail and spirit trends to watch in 2016. This week, we venture into the wide world of wine. 2015 saw big growth for sparkling wines like Prosecco, and the rise of Rosé brought us the amazing term “brosé.”
What wine trends will break out in 2016?