It's a new year and while many might be having a few weeks of abstinence for dry January, that doesn’t stop us from thinking about of the tipples in store later this year.
So what should we be drinking in 2020?
We spoke to three wine and spirit experts to get their drinks trend predictions for 2020.
Albarino
'Northwestern Iberia is the ancestral home of Albarino (or Alvarinho in Portuguese),' says Jamie Matthewson, Waitrose & Partners drinks expert. 'Galicia and the Rias Baixas DO in particular produce this grape. Its thick skin can withstand the cold and damp from the Atlantic and the wines are light and zippy with notes of lemons, limes and peach all against a bracing salinity. A total crowd-pleaser and easy to see why.'
Try: Waitrose Vina Taboexa Albarino, £8.79, Waitrose
Vintage Sherry styles
'The curiosity that is Palo Cortado continues to entice customers and will make its mark in 2020 as the sherry comeback continues.' advises Jamie Matthewson.
Try: Waitrose Solera Jerezana Palo Cortado Lustau Sherry, £11.99, Waitrose
Amarone-style wine
Matthewson also believes that the amarone-style wines will be big. 'These are made using the Appassimento technique of drying grapes before juicing for wine making, most commonly seen in Valpolicella, which means the flavours and sugars are more concentrated. This gives a richer, fuller wine. Love Amarone? This is why!'
Try: Terre di Faiano Organic Primitivo, £9.99, Waitrose Cellar
English wine
'English and Welsh wine producers continue to grow their ranges whilst new producers are popping up all over, as our home-grown wine industry booms,' says Alexandra Hale, Good Housekeeping's wine and spirits expert. 'We have incredibly exciting winemaking talent around us and with a broadening range of styles and varieties to choose from. And what better way of helping your carbon footprint than by supporting our local wine industry?'
Try: Chapel Down English rosé, £13, Sainsbury’s or Bolney Estate Dark Harvest 2017, £11.49, Waitrose
Premium homemade cocktails
'With brands such as London Essence Co. and Fever Tree adding sophisticated and quirky mixers to the already growing market, it is becoming easier and easier to produce interesting and impressive cocktails at home without the need for tonnes of ingredients. Whether you’re looking at a Bloody Mary with ready-spiced tomato juice or taking the simple G&T to the next level, there are mixers of all styles and flavours out there for you. 2020 is the year of the DIY cocktail!' enthuses GH's expert.
cocktail ingredients
The London Essence Co. London Essence Co. Grapefruit & Rosemary Tonic | Ocado
No- and low-alcohol wine, beers and spirits
Alexandra also predicts the continued growth of the no and low-alcohol category. 'This category is growing by the moment. From an area which a few years ago was limited to overly sweet soft drinks and squashes we now have a huge range of excellent quality no and low alcohol options to hand, for those who are limiting their intake or cutting out alcohol completely.'
Try: M&S Alcohol Free Merlot, 0.05%, £3.50, Marks & Spencer (in store) Concentrated, sweet and juicy black fruit flavours with a strong note of black tea on the finish.
Vegan and vegetarian wines
'Many people are surprised that wine is often not vegan or vegetarian' comments Alexandra. 'This is due to a process in winemaking called ‘fining’, where egg white, casein or gelatine (all deriving from animal products) are used, leaving microscopic residues. As vegan and vegetarian diets become more popular, we will see more and more wineries producing wines that are either unfined or fined using vegetarian/vegan alternatives.'
vegan and vegetarian wines
Sustainability: Organic and low sulphur wines
'In line with wider global trends pertaining to both the health of the environment and personal health,' says Sam Caporn Aldi's wine expert 'there has been increased interest in organic wines and also wines with lower alcohol and reduced levels of SO2 (sulphur dioxide) which is a commonly used preservative and by-product of wine that is also used for dried apricots and some sweets.'
Try: Organic Prosecco, £7.99, Aldi
Pretty in Pink
'Rosé wine remains extremely popular' States Aldi's expert, especially during the spring and summer months and the lighter Provençal styles in particular. I also predict however that rosé will increasingly be drunk outside of the 'hot weather window' and that pink fizz, gin and port will remain popular too.'
Try: Exquisite Collection New Zealand Rosé, £7.49, Aldi
Try: Exquisite Collection Sud de France Rosé, £5.99, Aldi
Food and wine enthusiast Alex joined the Good Housekeeping Institute in 2015 following seven years in the wine trade. In addition to her passion for oenology and Diploma in Wine & Spirits, she is a dedicated home cook and baker with skills learnt whilst working alongside the likes of Michel Roux Jr and Antonio Carluccio.
