Putting 2020 in the rearview mirror and concentrating on what 2021 has in store

We’ve been in 2021 for over a month, and people are starting to move their attention from the previous year to the next one. With a more optimistic attitude, we are eager to embrace what the year has in store as we work to leave 2020 behind us. In that vein, here are my five predictions for the food and beverage industry for the coming year:

Experiential, Intimate Dining at Home

Following the lockdown, the second half of 2020 was dominated by small-scale food and beverage consumption at home, and I expect this trend to continue in the new year. Drinking at home has never been easier, thanks to the abundance of specialty wine stores, online portals, and mobile apps that offer a large range of local and imported beverages and make ordering as simple as a few clicks away.

During the lockdown, wine, flavoured gin, and expensive craft brews became the preferred drink of choice for at-home events. People have grown accustomed to entertaining and dining at home, and they will demand better and more opulent at-home dining experiences, putting pressure on local restaurants and caterers to raise the bar on their delivery platforms. In 2021, DIY table décor and florals, build-your-own food packages with exotic ingredients, and even hiring (COVID-compliant) chefs to prepare meals for celebration feasts at home will all be popular.

Imports and international travel came to a halt in 2020, forcing us to rely on locally available options, particularly for food. India today has world-class culinary brands ranging from homegrown asparagus and avocado to indigenously produced cheese and liqueur-infused chocolates, helping us appreciate our home land more than ever before. It’s never been a better time to shop locally. Food imports have been progressively falling in recent years, and it is now thought that our reliance on globally produced fruits and vegetables is likely to be a luxury reserved for the wealthy, while the masses will seek out the finest quality local products available.

A Greater Emphasis on Health

For the most part, the global epidemic has served as a wake-up call to pay more attention to our health and well-being. Emotional, mental, and physical health have all been top priorities for many individuals in the years leading up to 2020, as evidenced by people’s eating choices. This trend is also excellent news for the world of wine – reams have been written on the health advantages of wine (when drank in moderation, of course), and as a result, wine sales increased significantly during the year. I believe the epidemic prompted us to reconsider our beverage preferences, with many whisky drinkers choosing for the health benefits of wine, a trend that appears to be set to continue well into 2021.

Grazing and Experimenting

Because of the pandemic, many people’s eating habits have changed dramatically. Goodbye, buffets, and welcome, plated individual meals. As a result of the pandemic, sharing food has become risky business, and the changeover to individual portions has resulted in a greater concentration on what we put on our plates, as well as a deeper intimacy in the eating process. Because we’re paying more attention to what’s being provided, we’re naturally paying more attention to what we’re pairing with our meals. Smaller, individual servings allow guests to graze and sample a variety of selections rather than concentrate on bigger quantities of a single dish. Consumers will be able to mix several foods with multiple wines — and experiment with more wine styles than they may have previously. Die-hard wine connoisseurs are all over the use of clever pouring devices like Coravin, which allow them to drink wine one glass at a time.

Wine for Occasion Gifting

If there will be more indoor hosting and socialising, and more wines will be uncorked at home, it is only reasonable that everyone bring a bottle of their favourite wine, right? As a result of the BYOB culture, wine will become the favoured hostess present, rendering flowers, candles, and chocolates even more useless.

When invited to a gathering at someone’s home, it’s never been more appropriate to bring a bottle of wine – wine has become a staple present in our country, and I see wine sales increasing through 2021, with well-known imported brands and premium Indian wine labels being the go-to choices for gifting.

The author is the first Master of Wine in India. She is also the Founder Director of Vine2Wine Retail and an instructor and consultant.