Millennial and Generation Z consumers, who are quickly becoming the most valuable purchasing demographics in wine, prioritize inclusivity and sustainability. At the center of this, climate change is increasingly Climate change is pushing winemakers to rethink vineyard locations and replant more climate-resistance varieties. (I ended up in Chile, Priorat and Oregon this year, and almost every winemaker I talked with echoed the urgency of the changing climate. It affected everyone — some winemakers were considering completely new varieties, others were purchasing up higher plots, while some were just trying to clean up the damage that hail, out-of-season weather, and other climate disasters were causing.)

“As temperatures rise and weather patterns become more unpredictable, many vignerons are taking into consideration longer-term implications of climate change,” says Gonzalez. “A delicate grape like Pinot Noir has a small, ideal temperature band at which it can grow and we're going to be pushing toward the high end of that band in another 20 to 30 years. Here in Oregon, producers are experimenting with varieties better suited to warmer temperatures like Tempranillo and Syrah. We'll see more people planting and replanting with warmer climate suitable varieties as temperatures continue to rise.”

“Due to climate change and a continued focus on wellness, consumers are leaning toward wineries that uphold practices to preserve the environment and pay mind to overall health through biodynamic farming,” says Regan DeBenedetto, Spuntino Wine Bar’s Director of Operations. “Lesser-known wineries will come to the forefront based on sustainable farming practices and younger generations stepping into leadership roles.”

“We’ll be seeing changes,” says Ervin Machado, the Beverage Manager and Sommelier for Elisabetta's and Louie Bossi's in South Florida. “Global warming has changed how we view and drink wine. I see emerging regions coming to play: England, the Netherlands, even Poland.”