Expect fresh flavours, as well as fresh experiences, in 2017.

That and other predictions are courtesy of Hong Kong-based wine critic James Suckling, who recently visited Thailand for the third edition of his Great Wines of Italy tasting showcase.

In recent years, the Asia’s best known voice in wine has devoted significant resources to expanding his brand in Thailand, a country he claims has the biggest market on the continent for premium Italian wines. So it should come as no surprise that this year’s event attracted a full crowd of 1,200 guests, there to taste the hundreds of top-scoring Italian reds, whites and rosés on offer and chitchat with producers, such as Anna Abonna of Marchesi di Barolo and Luca Sanjust of Petrolo.

Before the event, Suckling spoke to Prestige and laid down some predictions in wine for the year to come. “Biodynamic, organically grown grapes are adding new dimensions to wine,” he said, adding that he expected the same trends that have swept through fine dining – localism, sustainability, the organic movement – to influence wine, as well.

Suckling also predicted freshness to become a buzzword. Just as luxury travel has become geared toward experiences rather than specific destinations, wine will be all about personal interactions with the grape. And so he expects a new, more universal variety of wines to emerge – wines with fresh flavours that can pair with all kinds of cuisine.

And he made one final forecast that should be fun to follow this year: he expects American wines to boom, achieving higher status among wine connoisseurs worldwide. Napa Valley, of course, produces many excellent wines, but it will be interesting to see if other American regions can join the ranks of the Napa elite.

Whether Suckling is right or wrong is inconsequential for the time being. Instead, we should all say “cheers” to the great Italian wines and wine producers he introduced to Thailand at this year’s event.