By Rick Riozza
In the midst of March, we’re getting our marching orders to well consider the “fruit forward wine craze” here in America. We are told that consumers are increasingly choosing wines that are expressive, approachable and flavor-led rather than classic heavyweight styles.
Okay—this issue is not complicated. You folks clearly know who much fruit you find most pleasing, emanating from your glass.
We know wine enthusiasts from all over and there are a bunch who love the smell & taste of full orchards & fruit trees in the evening. And there’s the group who love being blasted with bombs of berries—the bigger the fruit bowl the merrier! According to the stats, below, it’s the Gen Z and Millennial consumers who’ll tend to find these styles of wine to be the jam—so to speak.
And then there’s the other side of midnight blue—these folks cherish the savory notes that the astonishing grape has to offer to share space, time, and partnership with stellar subdued fruit in the glass: such as leather, earth, smoke, blood, sweat & tears (well, maybe).
As your friendly neighborhood somm-about-town and wine steward at the Palm Springs Ralph’s Market, I get to witness the entire scene of quaffers making their way about. And they come in all ages.
For instance: there’s a regular elderly customer who’ll come into the wine aisle figuratively smacking his lips as he veers straight to a particular red wine that’s on sale. He tells me how much he loves all the big berry flavors along with the vanilla & caramel notes in the wine. Now I’m thinking, is this guy buying a red wine or ordering pastry!
I agree with him that I too, like those flavors, but I commented that I prefer to enjoy all of that in my crème brûlée! Jeez—am I becoming a wine curmudgeon? Nah—it’s a wide wide world in the game of wine where everyone’s happy.
It’s all over the internet…tick tock…TikTok: “Fruit-forward wines are surging in popularity, driven by consumer demand for approachable, aromatic, and expressive, flavor-led, young wines Furthermore, the fruit-forward wine boom is driven by Gen Z and Millennial consumers favoring accessible, vibrant, and aromatic, often lower-alcohol options over traditional, heavy, or high-tannin styles. These wines highlight primary, juicy fruit notes—such as berries, stone fruits, or citrus—and are popular for their food-friendly, approachable nature and, often, lower price points.”
But whatever: Fruit-forward wines are popular for a simple reason: they are easy to like. They offer ripe, obvious flavors, soft texture, and immediate pleasure, which makes them far more approachable for many drinkers than drier, more tannic, or more austere styles. That does not make them bad wines. It just means they deliver their appeal in a direct way.
And as you’d expect—at the same time, these fruit forward wines are often looked down on by more serious wine drinkers, critics, and sommeliers, who tend to value structure, balance, restraint, and complexity over instant fruit and sweetness. That gap says a lot about how people approach wine. Some want comfort and pleasure from the first sip. Others want tension, detail, and something that keeps unfolding in the glass. It’s a great game—ain’t it!
The term can be either positive or negative, depending on the context. First, many use the term “fruit forward” as a way to describe how New World wines are more likely to emphasize fruit flavors over Old World. While that was a helpful distinction years ago—remember “old world Chianti!”, but the lines have been blurred between styles and regions—and in a good way. There’s a delicious, complex world of wine out there and it’s not as simple anymore as assigning a single style to a single region.
Sometimes the term can be used to refer to wines that are simple, cheap and/or one-dimensional. I don’t think that’s a fair use, however: A wine can appear fruit-forward at first, revealing its nuances with air or over time—as we continue to offer: join in on the game of wine!
So as we see it, there are definitely two camps on this style—and really it has to do with whether the wine is white or red. As to fruit forward white wines: Sauvignon Blanc is leading the way with sales up 116%! compared to just a couple of years ago. Always deemed a true aromatic wine, Savvy Blanc—either in Sancerre, in Kiwi land, or in our California backyard, can always give a good jolt of fresh fruit such as citrus, grapefruit, guava, green apples, lemon, melon, nectarine, passion fruit, peaches, pineapple, and all types of tropical fruit. My mouth is watering big time as I’m typing this stuff!
When it comes to red wine, certainly there is a “savory” group, who of course love the fruit but appreciate wholeheartedly when it’s interwoven with the kitchen sink and what’s in the garage and backyard. Certainly we’re having fun here! Cheers!
For the price, most “savory” wine enthusiasts can have the respectable patience with the Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon that’s being served at their friends dining table. This wine’s standout feature is its balance of vivid aromas of black cherry, blackberry, and red berries with a smooth, medium body. Unlike the others, it offers a bright, fruit-forward profile backed by rich, toasty oak, vanilla, and coffee flavors that enhance its drinkability. Its versatility for pairing with grilled meats or cheese sets it apart, providing both quality on either side of the wine aisle.
Contact Rick at winespectrum@aol.com and vote you preference now.
