What does London drink?

em>We adore London. We admire the city?s deeply-rooted wine culture, the diversity and vibrancy of its wine businesses and the fact that Spanish gastronomy is thriving there. Despite the uncertainty brought on by Brexit, the rest of the world still mirrors itself on the British capital.

Its shops and restaurants are constantly spearheading new trends. With the help of our English clients and importers, we have compiled a snapshot of the wine scene in one of the world?s most influential cities.

What do Londoners like?
In terms of world wines, Prosecco, Pinot Grigio and affordable Sauvignon Blanc are popular choices. Regardless of their origin, these styles have been dominating the market for several years. With regard to Spanish wines, Rioja still rules but we are seeing a bigger presence of wines from Galicia, particularly Godello and Albariño, as well as of wines from Navarra in the house wine segment. Basic Cava brands are still strong but quality small producers are certainly gaining ground.

The London evening is one of the great world scenes to observe new wine trends

Which wine styles will succeed?
All kinds of wine styles are widely accepted in the UK, except for sweet wines. Aromatic whites from cool climates are the latest trend, along with warm fruit-driven reds. Wines with 12º-13º of alcohol are in great demand in mainstream markets but there is a solid niche for wines with higher alcohol content.

Which are the current wine trends?
Organic and natural wines, those without added sulphur, are growing and have become very fashionable in London?s hip areas. We are also experiencing a surprising growth in bag-in-box wines, perhaps because their quality has improved nowadays. A new trend in restaurants, which is arguably a consequence of economic instability, is the increasing use of large deposits to fill in carafes. BYOB (Bring Yout Own Bottle) is also experiencing a certain growth.

What is the future for wine consumption in restaurants and homes?
Brexit and the likely rise in exchange rates may push inflation upwards in the coming years, as well as a rise in alcohol duty. Undoubtedly, such a scenario will create bigger demands on the sector, including distributors and restaurants. Those who manage to offer more value for money will do well. What does this mean for wine consumption? People are likely to focus on price more than ever and will increasingly buy in supermarkets and large stores. Nevertheless, London will always have people with high purchasing power and a considerable number of influential restaurants with great wine lists."