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Wine regions of France: Languedoc-Roussillon

Wine region of Languedoc-Roussillon As the sun shines down on the Languedoc-Roussillon region, its vineyards thrive. The area is famous for red wines, made mostly with Grenache and Syrah grapes. But don’t overlook one of their white wines: Picpoul de Pinet. Made from Picpoul grapes, this wine is light and refreshing and pairs perfectly with seafood. It’s also a great summertime choice if you’re looking for an alternative to your favorite Sauvignon Blanc. The most important appellation in this region is AOC Corbières. Spread out over more than 20 villages, these vineyards produce about a third of all the wine… Read more

Wine regions of Spain: Cava

Cava is Spain’s sparkling wine. Cava is Spain’s sparkling wine. You might think of it as the Spanish equivalent of Champagne, which is mostly right. Cava is made in the traditional method, that is, the second fermentation happens inside a bottle instead of in tanks. The traditional method and Spain’s dry climate make for an excellent union in producing high-quality wines. In fact, many believe that cava will surpass Champagne in quality over the next few decades and become one of Europe’s greatest sparkling wines. Cava originates from Penedès, a region south of Barcelona famous for its wine production since… Read more

Wine regions of the United States: Texas

Overview of the Texas wine region Texas is a large state with a wide variety of climates and soil types. As such, the exact number of Texas wineries varies depending on who you ask and what their criteria for counting vineyards is. According to some sources, Texas has over 200 wineries, but it’s important to note that many of these are “boutique” wineries that do not have land or equipment of their own—they make wine using grapes grown at other vineyards. The Texas Department of Agriculture claims that there are over 60 commercial vineyards in the state, however. The main… Read more

Wine regions of Germany: Franconia

Franconia is one of Germany’s most important wine regions. Germany’s wine regions produce a huge variety of white wines, and the wines in different regions are known for having different characteristics. The climate and soil of the wine region is really important to the taste and quality of the wine that it produces. Franconia is a German wine region known for its unique wines. The wines grown in Franconia are considered some of the highest quality wines in Germany. The region is very hilly, but there are also many flat areas, so it’s a good place for growing grapes. In… Read more

Wine regions of China: Yunnan

Yunnan wine is produced in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan. Yunnan wine is produced in the southwestern Chinese province of Yunnan. The province shares a border with Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar and is not far from the Tibetan plateau. This geographical location helps to explain one of the most interesting facts about Yunnan and that is that it has a remarkable ethnic diversity for such a small place. The Yunnan region is home to 25 different officially recognized nationalities, some of whom are amongst China’s smallest groups, numbering merely in the thousands (the Wa Nationality for example) but also… Read more

Wine regions of Russia: St Petersburg

Introduction Many people ask me if there is a major difference between Russian and other European wines. The answer is no, but I will give you the difference in order to orient you into this guide. There are only two main regions that produce wine in Russia: Russia’s Far East (which also includes Siberia) and St Petersburg region. From experience, I can tell you that the country’s most famous wine comes from the former while its storied producer of fine wines comes from the latter. In my travels across Russia, however, it became clear to me that no region is… Read more

Wine regions of New Zealand: Nelson

Nelson is the top wine region in New Zealand, but it is not exactly known for its fine wines. Nelson is New Zealand’s top wine region by volume, but it’s not exactly known for its fine wines. While the majority of the country’s prime vineyard land lies in the north of both islands and produces delicate vintages that attract connoisseurs and command top dollar, Nelson is almost at the bottom—making it one of NZ’s coldest regions. The grapes grown here are a mix of varieties from all over the world, including Australia (which is just across Cook Strait to the… Read more

Wine regions of Germany: Nahe

The Nahe River The Nahe River is a tributary of the Rhine, one of the river systems that all German grapevines rely on for irrigation. The region gets its name from the river, which flows from the Hunsrück Mountains to join the Rhine. It is well known for its slate-dominated soils, which are found here in greater concentrations than anywhere else in Germany. History It’s thought that viticulture in the Nahe region began as far back as Roman times, when monks arrived and planted vines. The name was first recorded in 1074. In the early 20th century the area was… Read more

Wine regions of Italy: Abruzzo

Abruzzo is located in the central Italian region of Italy. Abruzzo is a region located in the central Italian region of Italy. It’s bordered on one side by the Adriatic Sea and on the other three sides by mountains: the Apennine Mountains to the south, Gran Sasso Massif to the north, and Sangro Valley to the east. The Sangro River flows through this valley into Abruzzo National Park, one of Italy’s largest national parks. Abruzzo is known for its dramatic landscapes, rich wildlife and mountainous terrain, which have allowed it to escape damage from modern development. In fact, much of… Read more

Wine regions of Italy: Sicily

Location: Where is Sicily? You may already know that Italy, famous for its wine and pasta, has the shape of a boot. If you look at a map of Italy and extend your gaze southward, you’ll see the island of Sicily. It is located just off the “toe” of the Italian “boot.” The island is separated from the mainland by the Strait of Messina, which is only three kilometres wide at its narrowest point. Wine history: Wine has been produced on the huge island of Sicily for at least four thousand years. Much like the rest of Italy, Sicilian wine… Read more