What’s Trending Now: Wine, Beer, and Spirits in 2023
You’re running an alcohol store in NZ, but how well do you really know what’s trending right now? Most retailers miss key shifts in wine, beer, and spirits that could boost their sales fast. This post breaks down the current popular trends so you can stock smarter and keep customers coming back.
Top Wine Trends Reshaping the Market
Natural and Organic Wines Continue to Surge
The natural wine movement shows no signs of slowing down. Customers are asking for minimal
-intervention wines with fewer additives and sulfites. These bottles sell at premium prices, with most buyers willing to pay 15-25% more for organic certification.
Local New Zealand natural wines are seeing the biggest growth. Customers want the story behind these wines – who made them and how. Smart alcohol store NZ owners are creating dedicated natural wine sections with staff training on the key talking points that sell these bottles.
Low-intervention doesn’t mean low quality. The best-performing natural wines combine their health positioning with exceptional taste profiles. Your customers care about both factors – the perceived wellness benefits and distinctive flavor notes they can’t find in conventional wines.
Low-Alcohol and Alcohol-Free Options Expand
The moderation movement is reshaping wine shelves across New Zealand. Non-alcoholic and low-alcohol wines now represent a genuine growth category rather than a niche offering. These products appeal to health-conscious customers who still want the ritual and flavor of wine.
The quality gap has closed dramatically. New dealcoholization techniques preserve more flavor compounds than ever before. Stores report 30-40% year-on-year sales growth in this category, with customers buying these products as additions to their usual purchases, not replacements.
Price points remain strong despite the lack of alcohol content. Your customers value the craftsmanship and technology behind these alternatives. The most successful alcohol store NZ retailers highlight these products near checkout areas and train staff to recommend them alongside traditional wines.
Emerging Wine Regions Gain Traction
Wine drinkers are looking beyond traditional regions. Portuguese wines, especially from the Douro and Alentejo regions, offer exceptional value-to-quality ratios that resonate with price-conscious shoppers. Eastern European wines from Georgia, Slovenia, and Croatia bring unique grape varieties and ancient winemaking techniques.
These emerging regions provide talking points that help sell bottles. Your customers crave new experiences and stories to share at their dinner parties. Stores that create “discovery sections” with staff recommendations see higher margins on these lesser-known wines.
The sweet spot for these bottles sits between $22-35 – premium enough to signal quality but not so expensive that customers won’t risk trying something new. Smart retailers create tasting programs around these regions to build customer confidence in unfamiliar wines.
Beer Innovations in 2023
Craft Beer Gets Hyperlocal
The craft beer scene has shifted from national brands to hyperlocal microbreweries. Customers want beers made within 50km of where they live. This trend connects with both environmental concerns about transport emissions and the desire to support local businesses.
New Zealand’s regional breweries are creating distinctive styles that reflect their specific locations. Think beers brewed with local honey, native herbs, or even seawater. These hyperlocal touches create products that can’t be replicated elsewhere.
Your customers value the freshness of local beer. Kegs and cans delivered straight from nearby breweries often reach shelves within days of production. The most successful alcohol store NZ retailers highlight “brewed on” dates and create regional beer sections organized by proximity to the store.
Functional Beers Enter the Market
Beer is no longer just about alcohol content and flavor. The new wave includes beers with added functional benefits – electrolytes for hydration, adaptogens for stress relief, and probiotics for gut health. These functional beers appeal to health-conscious drinkers who want their beverage choices to align with wellness goals.
The price premium on these products ranges from 20-40% above standard craft beers. Your customers are willing to pay more when they perceive multiple benefits from a single product. The most successful stores position these beers alongside sports drinks or in dedicated “active lifestyle” sections.
Marketing language matters with functional beers. Stores seeing the best results avoid medical claims while focusing on how these beers fit into active lifestyles. Staff knowledge about specific ingredients and their effects becomes crucial for selling these premium products.
Nostalgic Styles Make a Comeback
While hazy IPAs continue to dominate craft beer sales, traditional styles are making a strong comeback. Classic lagers, pilsners, and even old-school bitter ales appeal to drinkers tired of extreme flavors and high alcohol content.
These beers tell a story of brewing heritage and tradition. Your customers appreciate the craftsmanship behind perfecting simple styles that leave nowhere for flaws to hide. The most successful alcohol store NZ owners create “classics” sections that honor these traditional brewing approaches.
Price points for these nostalgic styles typically sit 10-15% below experimental craft beers. This creates an attractive entry point for customers new to craft beer while still offering good margins. Smart retailers use these accessible styles to build customer confidence before guiding them toward more adventurous options.
Spirits Taking the Spotlight
Ready-to-Drink Craft Cocktails Boom
Pre-mixed cocktails have evolved far beyond the basic RTDs of the past. Today’s canned cocktails feature premium spirits, fresh ingredients, and sophisticated flavor profiles. These products appeal to customers who want bar-quality drinks without the effort of mixing at home.
The most successful ready-to-drink products maintain the integrity of traditional cocktails while adding a unique twist. Your customers expect these products to deliver the same experience as a freshly made drink. The best-performing alcohol store NZ retailers merchandise these products in dedicated “cocktail stations” with complementary garnishes and glassware.
Price points for craft RTDs sit between $8-15 per serving – significantly higher than traditional RTDs but still below bar prices. This value proposition resonates with customers who compare the cost to what they’d pay in a cocktail bar rather than to mass-market alternatives.
Non-Traditional Gin Botanicals Expand
Gin continues its renaissance with an explosion of new botanical combinations. Beyond juniper, distillers now incorporate local ingredients like kawakawa, horopito, and manuka. These distinctive flavor profiles create products that can’t be replicated by international brands.
Your customers want gins that tell a story about where they come from. The most successful stores create tasting notes that highlight the specific local botanicals and their flavor contributions. Staff knowledge about perfect serving suggestions becomes crucial for selling these premium products.
The price sweet spot for these specialty gins sits between $75-95. At this level, customers perceive them as special occasion purchases worth the premium. Smart alcohol store NZ retailers create gift packaging options that emphasize the local connection and craft production methods.
American Whiskey Challenges Scotch Dominance
American whiskeys – particularly small-batch bourbons and ryes – are gaining significant market share from traditional Scotch. These products appeal to younger drinkers with their accessibility, mixability, and compelling brand stories.
The American whiskey category spans a wide price range, from accessible everyday options to limited releases that rival premium Scotch. Your customers appreciate the versatility of these spirits, which work equally well neat or in cocktails. Successful stores create American whiskey sections organized by style rather than brand.
Education drives sales in this category. The most effective alcohol store NZ retailers offer staff training on American whiskey production methods, mash bills, and aging techniques. Simple comparison charts that help customers navigate from Scotch to comparable American styles prove particularly effective at driving trial purchases.
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