From Seoul to Stockholm: Why Fruit Wine Is Taking Over the World
Walk into a trendy bar in Tokyo, a cosy kitchen in Warsaw, or a summer festival in Berlin, and chances are you’ll find a bottle of fruit wine being shared. Once seen as a rustic curiosity, fruit wine is now having a global moment — beloved for its variety, seasonality, and bold, expressive flavour.
At Mirabelle, we’ve always believed fruit wine deserved the spotlight. And now, from Asia to Europe and down to New Zealand, it finally is.
A Global Tradition, Reimagined
Fruit wine isn’t a trend — it’s a time-honoured tradition with deep roots around the world. Let’s take a little tasting tour:
🇰🇷 South Korea: Maesil-ju & Fermented Elixirs
Koreans have long embraced maesil-ju, a plum wine made from green maesil plums and honey. Smooth, sweet, and slightly tart, it’s often enjoyed chilled after meals. Fermented fruit drinks — including peach, raspberry, and even omija (five-flavour berry) — are also used medicinally and ceremonially.
🇯🇵 Japan: Umeshu & Culture in a Glass
Japan’s umeshu (plum wine) is a beloved staple, known for its golden colour and balance of sweet and sour. Many families make their own at home each season. It’s enjoyed on ice, with soda, or warm in winter — a ritual as much as a drink.
🇸🇪 Scandinavia: Berry Wines & Nordic Heritage
In Sweden, Norway, and Finland, people have long crafted wines from wild berries: lingonberry, cloudberry, bilberry. These rich, earthy wines reflect a connection to the land and the forest. Often made in small batches, they’re a point of pride and tradition.
🇵🇱 Eastern Europe: Garden Wines
In countries like Poland and Hungary, cherry, blackcurrant, and plum wines are a part of rural culture — often made in family kitchens. Each bottle tells a story of harvests, heritage, and hospitality.
So Why Is Fruit Wine Trending Now?
As global tastes shift toward sustainability, experimentation, and sensory experience, fruit wine ticks all the boxes:
Flavour diversity – Each fruit brings a different story: floral, spicy, tangy, mellow.
Lower-alcohol appeal – Many fruit wines are naturally lower in alcohol than traditional wines, making them ideal for mindful sipping.
Eco-conscious values – Made from seconds, surplus, or non-grape crops, fruit wines support local growers and reduce food waste.
Artisanal lifestyle – Small-batch production, seasonal releases, and natural ingredients resonate with a new generation of drinkers.
The New Zealand Shift
In New Zealand, wine culture has long revolved around grapes. But change is in the air — and on the palate.
More Kiwis are seeking:
Flavours that match the fruit-growing abundance of Aotearoa
Lighter, fruitier options for casual gatherings
Locally made, sustainable products with heart
That’s where fruit wine shines.
At Mirabelle, we’re proudly part of this movement. Our wines celebrate New Zealand-grown fruit, with flavours that are fresh, balanced, and unforgettable — from the sun-warmed tang of feijoa to the deep spice of plum. No concentrate. No shortcuts. Just real fruit and real craftsmanship.
🍷 A Taste of the Future
Fruit wine isn’t replacing grape wine — it’s expanding the world of what wine can be. It invites curiosity, encourages exploration, and suits a modern, flavour-forward lifestyle.
Whether it’s a gift, a weekend treat, or your new house favourite, fruit wine brings something special to the glass — and to the conversation.
Curious to see why the world is sipping fruit wine?
Discover our handcrafted blends and taste the global trend, grown right here in New Zealand.
