Trending drinks: All our predictions for 2023

It’s been a rapid rise for piquette, and that looks set to continue for this spritzy, low-alcohol, refreshingly funky drink. It’s easy to see why, too. Made from leftover grape material used to produce a wine, piquette gives this waste a second life, so it has sustainability on its side. It’s also diverse, as it's made from countless different grapes, and its fermentation process results in myriad styles, too. It’s typically less than 5% ABV, and comes with a compelling tangy hit, a lot like a sour beer or pét nat. Intrigued yet? 

We think piquette is the ultimate picnic drink, and not just because so many options come in a can or other convenient format – this is the sort of light, fresh drink that screams to be enjoyed al fresco. If “grape-flavoured sour beer” sounds like your thing, look for the Oakridge Garden Gris Piquette – you can’t miss the pretty can from this celebrated Yarra Valley winery. You might like to compare it with the Social Butterfly Blanc Piquette, an amber-hued fruity style made from sauvignon blanc skins.

Rosé has been one of the strongest recent performers in the wine world – a huge go-to when the temperature climbs – but chilled wine is getting darker. It could be thanks to rosé coming in so many different shades and styles, but there’s a real push towards red wines that can be chilled. It also helps that people are loving fresh, bright and juicy reds, which just so happen to be spot-on for a stint in the fridge. 

The trick is therefore to choose the right style. Don’t be plunging your favourite bold cabernet or shiraz into the ice bucket – look to the likes of gamay, pinot and other lighter reds. We recommend the Brown Family Tarrango, with its vibrant red hue and pretty berry and cherry flavours, as well as the crunchy Airlie Bank Cabernet Franc. We’ll be seeing more styles like these roll out with winemaker suggestions to serve them chilled.

Fruity beer straddles a few differing styles and has won over a heap of people since launching onto the scene last year. Beer lovers, seltzer fans and even people who’ve never been into beer are helping to make fruity beer one of the biggest new things in drinks. The ultimate refresher, it also comes in cute and colourful cans. What’s not to love? 

While you can be sure you’ll see more fruity beers land this year, two highlights are worth a look – and perfect for right now. The Sungazer Mango Fruity Beer combines fresh mango aromas with medium sweetness in an easy-drinking style, while the Mosey Passionfruit Fruity Beer bursts with passionfruit flavours and crisp lager flavours on the finish. This is fruity goodness that’s here to stay.

Look, it’s not like we haven’t had mixed drinks in convenient packages until now (we still love you, UDL), but the age-old ‘ready to drink’ is all grown up. The pandemic may even get a little credit for this because lockdowns reminded us how much we love a well-made drink, so producers brought them to us at home. And much like Covid, these pre-batched cocktails aren’t going anywhere either.

If you’re yet to explore these drinks, one top-seller that lets you play bartender is the Tails 42 Below Passionfruit Martini. For ready-to-go cocktails, the new Cantails range is already making waves – choose between the Spicy Margarita, Apple Martini and Espresso Martini. And if you’re keen to throw a non-alcoholic option into the mix, the Nocktails Mojito is low in sugar and high in flavour. Want even more choice? Watch this space this year.