Press

In 2024, it’s not news that Pinot Noir is a popular grape. The thin-skinned variety, originally from France’s esteemed Burgundy region, captivated winemakers with its elegance and freshness and has taken off over the past two decades.

“German Pinot Noir is one of the most under-appreciated wine categories,” says Jenna Fields, the president of the German Wine Collection, a California-based importer.

The trend toward “Dry January” and “mindful drinking” has prompted a boomlet in dealcoholized wine and “wine alternatives,” creative concoctions meant to mimic wine’s body and flavor. There are several new choices that weren’t on the market a year ago, appealing to consumers who want the experience of wine without the effects and aftereffects of alcohol.

Wine’s most underrated grape could finally get its due thanks to Millennials and Generation Z, the same groups that the industry complains are not drinking enough wine.

When you first “get into” wine, you develop your own signature set of gripes. Things that never used to irk you when you were a normal consumer, but once you’ve spent enough time in the minutia of it all, you can’t help but be obnoxious about. For me, two personal pet peeves come to mind: first, incorrectly pronouncing the word sommelier (suh·muhl·yay, not suh-mawl-ee-yay) and second, asking a waiter if a wine is dry and nothing else.

For occasions like a day that spotlights sweets, a special bottle of sweet wine might be the perfect ending.