2025 Chicory Trends & Predictions - BevAlc
The BevAlc industry is poised for an exciting 2025. Consumer preferences are adapting, whether it be generational shifts in purchasing behavior or seasonal changes. Brands in the BevAlc category need to stay on top of industry changes moving into 2025 if they want to be at the forefront of engaged, ready-to-buy consumers.
In this article, we explore three key industry trends and predictions that can help brands navigate the new year and anticipate shifting consumer expectations - meeting their buyers at the right moments.
1. Growing Consumer Interest in White Wine
In the wine space, industry players are noticing that white wines are growing in popularity. As consumers start to gravitate toward lighter, high-acidity options with approachable yet complex flavors, Italian white wine might just be the varietal to look out for moving into 2025.
Jenna Steele, VP of eCommerce and Digital at Riboli Family Wines, touched on why this trend is gaining momentum, and how Riboli’s Riva De La Rosa brand capitalized on this moment:
“Riva De La Rosa is all about discovery and wanderlust, representing the identity of Italy under one label and capturing the magic of Italian white wine and culture. Grown in cooler climates, these grapes produce wines with a lighter body and slightly lower alcohol content, making them versatile for pairing with various cuisines and easy to drink and share.”
The data seems to agree. According to SipSource, Italy dominates the white table wine category in the $15 to $25 range with a whopping 60% share. White wine is clearly emerging as a dominant category, this might just be the perfect moment for brands to double down on their own expressions of the varietal.
This is especially true in the summertime, where white wine rises in popularity.
2. Seasonal Drink Trends
Seasonality continues to reshape the way consumers engage with alcohol. There are no signs of that changing in 2025.
Drinks that align with the flavors of each season continue to captivate consumers. Let’s have a look at our data from last year, and see how it can help BevAlc brands get in front of inspired customers.
Spring: As the weather warms up, 53% of the top 15 spring cocktail recipes prominently feature tequila or vodka. Ingredients like orange juice also make a splash, showing up in 39% of recipes during March through May. Think Margarita-inspired twists and Tequila Sunrises that welcome the season with bright, citrusy notes.
Summer: For summer sippers, 33% of the top recipes lean towards wine or sparkling wine bases. Refreshing drinks like Sangria, Aperol Spritz, and White Wine Spritzers dominate, with citrus fruits such as oranges, limes, and grapefruit appearing in 73% of these recipes. These ingredients add zest and vibrancy to any beverage and are often paired with seltzer water.
Fall: When the leaves start to fall, so do citrus fruits, replaced by apples in 40% of top recipes. Seasonal favorites such as Apple Cider Mimosas and Harvest Punch take center stage, pairing sweet apple flavors with a cozy autumn vibe.
Winter: Finally, the colder months bring a focus on vodka, which forms the base of 47% of the top recipes. Highlighted by warm and spiced flavors, winter drinks like Chocolate Martinis, Gingerbread Martinis, and Cranberry Aperol Spritzes account for 33% of recipes, adding a festive touch to holiday celebrations.
These insights not only help brands get ahead of shifting consumer behavior in 2025, but also present opportunities for BevAlc companies to get in front of inspired consumers and influence shopping decisions off-site.
Whether it’s a refreshing sangria in July or a vodka martini in December, brands can leverage trending beverage flavors to make their products shine in recipes that call for specific ingredients.
3. Gen Z’s Changing Relationship with Alcohol
One of the bigger questions moving into the new year regards younger generations and their shifting attitude towards alcohol. Gen Z drinks 20% less than millennials, according to CivicScience data from 2023, and they are even leading initiatives like Dry January.
While this signals a shift toward more intentional drinking habits, it’s certainly not the full picture.
Among the Gen Z consumers who do drink, nearly 47% of those aged 21-24 report drinking weekly, a higher frequency than older age groups.
Their choices, however, reflect a desire for innovation and convenience. Ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages, including pre-mixed cocktails and hard seltzers, have seen explosive growth—104% in two years per NielsenIQ.
So what does this mean? Blake Droesch, Senior Analyst of Retail & Ecommerce at EMARKETER, says “It’s about diversifying your product offering in order to meet the consumer for what they want at the moment,” whether it’s nonalcoholic drinks or more premium options.
Gen Z consumers have started gravitating towards innovations like spiked kombuchas, organic wines, and beverages labeled "natural," per a 2022 Food Insight study cited by Forbes.
Brands like Molson Coors are responding by expanding its portfolio of premium beverages with Simply Spiked lemonades and Peace Hard Tea.
Droesch hammers this idea home. “Diversifying your product offering is key to keeping consumers loyal, no matter how their preferences change.”
To stay ahead, brands must meet Gen Z consumers with these new mindsets—offering products that are sustainable, creative, and ready for any occasion.
Conclusion
As we move into 2025, the BevAlc industry finds itself lying between tradition and transformation. While seasonal changes in ingredient and drink popularity will most likely remain the same in the next year, consumer shifts in wine varietals and generational changes in drinking habits pose interesting opportunities that BevAlc brands need to adapt to.
By staying attuned to these trends, BevAlc companies can position themselves to not only meet but also anticipate the evolving demands of their audiences, ensuring their products resonate across all generations and occasions.