Five food and wine trends for 2024

1. Exploration of Emerging Wine Regions.

While the best-known wine areas continue to attract large groups of international wine lovers, there is growing interest in lesser-known emerging regions. Wine and food enthusiasts and others are looking for authentic wines from less conventional places, discovering new terroirs and native grape varieties. Our Custoza Doc, also called "A Rising Star" by Walter Speller, editor for Jancis Robinson, is a perfect example: a wine rooted in a borderland between the vacated areas of Lake Garda and Valpolicella but expressing a strong and distinctive identity.

2. Tapas, Cicchetti, and Individual Portions for a new gourmet experience

"Mini portions" are increasingly popular with foodies worldwide, as long as they are gourmet and very appealing. A habit that allows for a lot of variety on the plate and allows people to taste different combinations of ingredients, offering surprising and stimulating gastronomic experiences. In addition, tapas, "cicchetti", and crostini are increasingly including healthy and nutritious options, satisfying the needs of customers looking for more beneficial solutions. Also spreading this trend is the predisposition to devote more time to aperitif time, during which it is customary to pair a glass of wine with a small portion of food. Each type of wine, through its organoleptic characteristics, can divinely enhance the tapas, creating a sensory game that is very engaging for the guests. At Monte del Frà, we love to surprise our wine lovers with readings dedicated to the "Cicchetti of the Month," which we occasionally pair with our wines. Click here to read about our most delicious pairings!

3. Regenerative agriculture

One of the biggest trends of 2024, and one we are proud of, is regenerative agriculture, a fundamental shift toward more sustainable and regenerative farming practices. Activities such as micro-drip irrigation, purification for water recirculation, and solar energy are crucial to combating climate change. At Monte del Frà, innovative techniques are already in use, and they will be improved in the following years through a project involving technology and new buildings to provide a better quality job for our employees and a healthier environment for everybody. Click here to read more about it.

4. Easy-drinking, fresh, and less alcoholic wines: simple is better (without sacrificing territoriality)!

Among the many 2024 food and wine trends, one indeed concerns us most and features wine as the protagonist. In recent years, we have highlighted a fast-growing trend whereby wine lovers worldwide are increasingly seeking immediate, fresher, and easier-drinking wines without giving up territoriality and tradition. The main reason is that nowadays, we admire wine not only for its performance and structure, but we also ask ourselves how much we want to drink. We find gratifying wines that do not tire the palate and stomach but engage us with irresistible pleasantness toward the next sip. Wines such as Custoza doc, Lugana doc, Bardolino doc, and Chiaretto di Bardolino doc possess precisely these sought-after characteristics. At the origin of it all is the territory: morainic hills with unique traits and an ideal climate thanks to the proximity of Lake Garda.

5. Toward sustainable food and wine tourism

In the food and wine tourism sector, too, there is a growing interest in sustainable itineraries such as walking trails, horseback riding, and outdoor experiences like picnics in the vineyard. But also search for local agritourism, historic stores, and artisan dairies where food is made "as it once was" on-site and with excellent raw materials. Our winery stays in a rural area rich in local food and wine realities that are, among other things, set among historic
walking trails. A place that, if it is already appreciated for these peculiar characteristics, will be even more so!