Wall calendars may be a relic of the Analog Age, but new-year’s crystal-ball-gazing never goes out of style. Resisting a chat with ChatGPT, instead I visited Suburban Wines & Spirits, to chat “IRL” with the folks there about the trends afoot in wine and spirits.
Wine-wise, many drinkers have settled into their comfort wines. Cabernet and Chardonnay are two specific categories being buoyed by habit, so to speak. Ditto Montepulciano and Pinot Grigio in Italy. And Sancerre lovers gonna Sancerre. Same thing = good thing; no problem there.
Store owner Dan Spadola notes growing demand for reduced-alcohol wine — a circular display with health-conscious brands like FitVine and Avaline has been joined by Meiomi “Bright” Pinot Noir and Bread & Butter “Sliced” Chardonnay.
Dan and I agree that these wines present a “Catch 22” in that they may have lower alcohol content (7-8% vs 11-14%), they are actually more processed (or manipulated) than a great many wines on the shelf. Indeed, an important continuing trend among wines is the continued shift toward “greener” viticulture — terms such as organic, biodynamic, regenerative, and just plain sustainable abound these days — and “minimal intervention” winemaking.
The concept suffers to a degree from so many distinct terms being applied, and from the term “natural” wine remaining not only undefined but also controversial. But no doubt the availability and quality of these goods has never been better; kudos for Suburban for flagging organic wines on their hand-written shelf-talkers all over the store.
In distilled spirits, bourbon—the corn-dominant whiskey often associated with Kentucky but legally made anywhere in America—continues to lead the way. Stylistically, bourbon tends to be sweet-ish, compared to spicy rye whiskies and peaty Scotch single malts. Bourbons also tend to be strong, with the majority clocking in at 90 proof or higher.
Brand-loyal fans continue to stick to Bulleit, Knob Creek, Maker’s Mark and Woodford Reserve. Also of note, though, is the store’s extensive selection of New York State whiskies, led by Hillock and Taconic.
Suburban has a tradition of offering private barrels, curated exclusively for the store. The current “SuBourbon” is an 8-year-old, 124.4-proof (62.2% alcohol!) Elijah Craig, which spirits specialist Sondra says fans keep coming back for.
She also shared an inside scoop on another Suburban discovery: a butter pecan liqueur so good that if she had known about it sooner, she might have picked it as her Spirit of the Year. Don’t expect me to tell you what it is… head over to Yorktown Heights (or their website), where that liqueur and all of the Suburban team’s top picks of 2025 are taking a bow, and still available to carry us into 2026.
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