Category
Lifestyle
Festive Fusions
Trend cluster
Category
Hyper-Niche
Sommelier
Experts in unexpected areas of interest make for unique, sensorial amenities.
4.2
Trend score
Trend
What is the Hyper-Niche Sommelier trend?
Hyper-Niche Sommelier: Given the modern focus on sensory-based experiences, unique services and amenities qualified by experts in unexpected areas of interest have begun to emerge. Although the areas of expertise stray from wine or beer, these experts are still often referred to as sommeliers, with their expertise revolving around the sensorial experience of consuming a product. This progression speaks to a consumer desire to learn more about sensory-based consumption, especially when it goes beyond the realm of taste.
Trend themes
Themes within the Hyper-Niche Sommelier trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Sensory-Based Experiences
Consumer desire for sensory-based experiences in unique, unexpected areas of interest creates opportunities for hyper-niche sommeliers.
02
Expert-Led Education
Expert sommeliers provide opportunities for sensorial education, expanding the palette of consumers and creating opportunities for conscious holistic living.
03
Holistic Lifestyle
The emergence of unique sommeliers highlights a rising trend towards consuming goods and services for more than just utilitarian purposes, expanding opportunities for a more holistic approach to life and business.
Industry implications
What the Hyper-Niche Sommelier trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Hospitality
The hospitality industry can capitalize on the trend of hyper-niche and expert-led sensory experiences by creating innovative amenities and services that are curated to engage customers on new levels.
For
Food and Beverage
The food and beverage industry can expand on this trend of hyper-niche sommeliers to create unique opportunities for pairing and enhancing their products through innovative expert-led educational experiences.
For
Education
The trend towards expert-led sensorial experiences creates opportunities for institutions and businesses to provide unique educational opportunities and curriculums based on the learnings from sensory-based sommeliers.
Workshop question
How could you tweak your product or service to communicate a sense of elitism?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Hyper-Niche Sommelier
Trend score 4.2 out of 10, from popularity 70%, activity 50%, freshness 8%.
Popularity70%
Activity50%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha (not a primary audience)
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer
Market
North America
Europe
Evidence
Examples of the Hyper-Niche Sommelier trend
4 featured examples from Feb 2 to Nov 22, 2015CategoryLifestyle
Educational Cannabis Sommeliers
The Mile High Dispensary in Denver Has an Expert 'Budtender'
The cannabis industry is seeing a proliferation of expert staff with sommelier-level knowledge who can help customers find the right products.
CategoryLifestyle
Professional Wood Sommeliers
NYC's Royalton Hotel Has a Fireplace Program with a Wood Sommelier
Hotels and resorts can use the wood sommelier program to offer unique sensory-based amenities to guests, enhancing their experience.
CategoryLifestyle
Certified Water Sommeliers
Martin Riese Hosts a Water Tasting Event at a Los Angeles Restaurant
Restaurants and bars can incorporate water menus and tasting events to enhance the dining experience and attract water connoisseurs.
CategoryLifestyle
Hot Sauce Sommeliers
The Heatonist is Opening a Store in Brooklyn with Tasting Classes
The Heatonist's retail store and tasting room exemplify the disruptive innovation opportunity for specialty food retailers to provide unique experiences and curated selections for…
