Trends to Look For in 2024

Each year in January I always look at the wine topics that are getting a lot of attention, and I write a blog about it. Two years ago I wrote about low alcohol and non-alcoholic wines. And that trend continues and is growing in popularity.

1. Low Alcohol & Non-Alcoholic Wines

In the grocery stores, I see more and more people going with non-alcoholic wines in their carts, and that trend will continue. Non alcoholic wines are improving in flavor all the time, and the above Chardonnay from Superstore was one of the tastiest non-alcohol wines I’ve tried. Last Spring when I was going through chemo and radiation I tried many of them, and I can tell you from experience, the more expensive ones are not necessarily the best ones. I paid $35 for one and poured it down the sink. It allows people to enjoy wine with their meals and still be able to drive, and cuts down on alcohol consumption.

2. Splurging is still a thing.

Everyone that reads this wine blog knows for the most part I’m all about finding great wines at great prices. Wines do not have to be expensive to be really good. But a trend that will continue into 2024 is splurging every once in a while. My friend Anthony is really good at that, as is my brother in law Craig. He doesn’t drink wine on a regular basis, only when I’m home, so he tends to buy a treat wine. Like the above Caymus wine. Full bodied and delicious but priced at about $90 a bottle.

3. People are enjoying more Comfort Food and Wine

I don’t eat steak very often, but when I do I really enjoy it, and I will always have a glass of wine with my steak. This past week I was craving some real comfort food, so I decided to make homemade fries to go with this steak.

I don’t own a deep fryer anymore, and I haven’t found a way to do them in the air fryer that tastes like homemade fries. So, I did them in my big cast iron frying pan, I also did my steak in a cast iron frying pan. 

They came out good and crispy and hit the spot. Whether its hearty stews, creamy pasta dishes or meat, I love a glass of wine with my favorite comfort foods. And don’t worry whether you should have white or red, just enjoy with one of your favorite wines.

I just got off the phone with my Mom, who was admitted to hospital earlier this week. In the middle of a raging blizzard in Corner Brook, my brother in law Craig called to ambulance. The paramedic said she was drowning in fluid, and it was really affecting her breathing. She is doing much better today, and they are doing a good job of getting rid of the fluid.

I met with my friend Anita from Atlantic Tours and Travel this past week and she was asking about the puppies. This was taken this week and Lexi is up to 61.6 lbs this week, and she turned 6 months old January 1st. She’s a floof ball and loves her big sister Maggie.

Last week I told I was bringing this Humo Blanco Cabernet Franc to our weekly Rummikub game. Well, talk about mixed opinions. My friend Angie and I tend to enjoy many of the same wines. She likes full-bodied wines so I thought she might like this. She did not! She had to pour her remaining glass of wine in my glass. She didn’t like it, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The Cabernet Franc grape originated in France as part of the blend of Bordeaux wines. Argentina is having some great success with this grape varietal on its own. This is priced at $24 a bottle, it’s dry and full-bodied with notes of vanilla and black currant. 

That’s it for me this week. Thank you for reading, and have a great week

Darlene