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Wine regions of Russia: Crimea

The largest peninsula in Europe Crimea is only a small peninsula, so if you’ve ever had the feeling that it’s way bigger than it actually is, rest assured. “Crimea” consists of four regional areas: Black Sea, Crimean Mountains, Crimean steppe and Crimean South Coast. So basically there’s a lot of mountains; very little flat territory; and lots of water. The most prominent features are the narrow mountain formations known as the Crimean Mountains (also known as “the Caucasus”). These range in altitude from about 500 meters to 1,500 meters above sea level – you’re probably not going to see them… Read more

Wine regions of Romania: Transylvania Highlands

History of wine in the region Winemaking in the Transylvania Highlands is a long tradition, going back centuries to Roman times. Romania is now the 13th largest wine producer in the world, and wineries throughout the region are proudly producing new wines from old vineyards. In fact, some of these vineyards were banned under Romania’s communist regime and are just being rediscovered and replanted after being ignored for decades. With its mountainous terrain and unique soil condition, Transylvania produces excellent wines year after year that are distinctive from those produced in other regions. The topography gives it a rich diversity… Read more

Wine regions of Portugal: Douro

With port, you’re likely familiar with the Douro region. As the world’s first demarcated wine region and home to port, it might seem like a no-brainer that it is one of Portugal’s most famous wine regions. However, there are many more wines produced in the region than just port. The Douro DOC is located in north-central Portugal along the Douro River and its tributaries. The area has five subregions: Baixo Corgo on the lower reaches of the river, Cima Corgo in the middle reaches of the river, Douro Superior at its headwaters, Terras do Infante in eastern Trás-os-Montes and Baixo… Read more

Wine regions of South Africa: Stellenbosch

The town of Stellenbosch, founded in 1679, is less than 30 miles from Cape Town. The name means “the place of the star” in Dutch. It is located in the wine region of the same name. One of South Africa’s oldest wine regions Phylloxera — a vine disease that destroyed some of the world’s most famous wine regions in the late 19th century — hit Stellenbosch hard, but after replanting with American rootstocks, the region was able to recover and maintain its position as one of South Africa’s oldest wine regions. You won’t find white wines in Stellenbosch as readily… Read more

Wine regions of Germany: Ahr

The Ahr is one of 13 official wine regions (Weinbauregionen) in Germany. It is situated in the north of the country, and is primarily known for its red wines, made from mainly the Spätburgunder, Portugal and Frühburgunder grape varieties. Its best-known town is Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. The Ahr River flows through the region. Geography and climate Ahr is a little known region, mostly for its surrounding area of the Rhine River. Its wine regions are focused on the red variety, and it’s known for growing not only red grapes, but also white wines. Ahr was once home to the Ahrenburg Castle… Read more

Wine regions of China: Hong Kong

China is not a big wine producer It’s commonly believed that China is a large wine producer. In reality, it’s the world’s eighth largest producer, and the amount of wine produced in China is around 1 percent of all the wine produced in the world. Hong Kong has an advantage over Mainland China when it comes to producing wines. The country is a major consumer of wine, but most of its wine is imported from other countries like France and Spain. There are not many famous Chinese wines, so if you’d like to taste what China produces, head to one… Read more

Wine regions of Australia: South Australia

South Australia is one of the six states and two mainland territories of Australia. The state is home to the Barossa Valley, Coonawarra, and McLaren Vale wine regions, as well as Adelaide Hills. At 984,377 square miles (2.5 million square kilometers), South Australia is the fifth largest state in Australia. It’s also home to about 1.7 million people; 95% live in the capital city of Adelaide and its surrounding area. Founded by Colonel William Light in 1836, Adelaide was named after Queen Adelaide of England. In addition to its acclaimed wines, South Australia produces a variety of other goods including… Read more

Wine regions of Chile: Colchagua Valley

The origin of the wine industry in Chile It was not until the 19th century that Chile tried to develop its wine industry, but it was not until 1947 that the Colchagua Valley (Valley of the Moon) was recognized as a potential wine region. In 1851 the first records of commercial vineyards were planted by French immigrants, while the first commercial winery was established in 1867 in what is now Curicó. The Chilean wine industry had been cultivated since 1554 and because of this, it is possible to identify several Chilean grape varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.… Read more

Wine regions of Argentina: Mendoza

Mendoza is Argentina’s largest wine producing area and is located in the western part of the country at the base of the Andes mountains. Not only does this region produce more wines than any other Argentine wine region, but it also has an international reputation that sets it apart from the rest. As a tourist destination, Mendoza has everything from upscale hotels and restaurants to small family-owned vineyards. The region is divided into several smaller geographical areas each with its own unique set of characteristics that influence both quality and style. The main grape varieties grown here include Malbec (red)… Read more

Wine regions of the United States: California

Geography and climate California is the largest state in the United States, located on the west coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east and Mexico to the south. It’s divided into two distinct regions by a mountain range running through its centre: northern California, which experiences cooler temperatures than southern California. The geography of this massive state is incredibly varied, including deserts, river valleys, forests and coastal plains. The climate of California varies from Mediterranean along its Pacific coastlines to subarctic in parts of its northernmost counties. The temperatures don’t fluctuate very much year-round… Read more