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Wine regions of France: Corsica

Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea located between France and Italy, although it is administratively a French territory. Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea located between France and Italy, although it is administratively a French territory. It is one of the 18 regions of France and an island in the Corse-du-Sud department. Corsica has a wine history dating back to ancient times when Phoenicians and Greeks first settled on the island and began producing wine. As a wine region, Corsica has been in existence for thousands of years. When the Phoenicians and Greeks first settled the… Read more

Wine regions of Italy: Piedmonte

Piedmonte is northwest of Tuscany and borders France. You may not have heard of Piedmonte before, but that’s okay. Remember, there are 20 wine regions in Italy and it’s your job to learn all about them. Luckily, we can boil down the most important things you need to know into a single paragraph or so. The region of Piedmonte is northwest of the Tuscan region and borders France. This proximity gives Piedmonte wines a distinctly French style: they are made with mostly red grapes and produce dry whites that have an astringent taste. The climate is cool and rainy which… Read more

Wine regions of Australia: Victoria

Location / geography When you’re visiting the wine regions of Victoria, Australia, here’s what you need to know about location. The state of Victoria is Australia’s second smallest state after Tasmania. It is located in the south-east of the country and borders New South Wales to the north and South Australia to the west. The state of South Australia is directly to the west of Victoria. The ocean forms Victoria’s southern and eastern borders. Grapes Victoria’s climate offers an opportunity to experiment with other grape varieties that don’t grow well in cooler climates, such as sauvignon blanc and shiraz. Its… Read more

Wine regions of Italy: Sardinia

Sardinia is a Mediterranean island that lies off the southwest coast of Italy. Sardinia is a Mediterranean island that lies off the southwest coast of Italy. It’s one of the 20 regions of Italy, and you can expect to find an array of Sardinian wines in its markets. Unfortunately only a few are imported to the US. This makes me wonder if I should plan my next vacation there, since wine lovers have been touting it as the next big thing for quite some time. Must be nice to bask on gorgeous beaches while spotting archaeological sites and sipping interesting… Read more

Wine regions of Russia: Republic of Dagestan

Location: Republic of Dagestan, Russian Federation Dagestan is home to a unique culture that combines many of the region’s former countries: ancient Persian, Ottoman and Russian cultures. As such, it is a melting pot of traditions, ethnicity, religion and language. It also has some magnificent scenery to offer as well. For example, the Dagestani people have developed their own version of an Ashokan temple. Called dozhaba (meaning “big stone”), they are monolithic stone structures that consist of a small entryway and a great courtyard; some hide underground chambers used for religious purposes. Other than being spectacularly impressive (or just plain… Read more

Wine regions of Italy: Campagnia

The Campania region of Italy produces some of the most popular Italian wines. The Campania region is one of the largest wine producing regions in Italy, and although far from the most famous, it produces some of the most popular Italian wines. It lies in the South of Italy, on the West coast and is bordered by the Tyrrhenian Sea. The region has a long history of wine production with archaeological evidence suggesting that grapes were grown here as far back as 1500 BC. The large-scale production started with the arrival of Greek settlers in 750 BC. Red grape varietals… Read more

Wine regions of Spain: Rías Baixas DO

The Rías Baixas DO is located in the Galicia region, in northwestern Spain on the Atlantic coast. The Rías Baixas DO is located in the Galicia region, in northwestern Spain on the Atlantic coast. It’s situated in the province of Pontevedra, and is neighbored to the east by Portugal. The specific appellation of Rías Baixas consists of nine subzones that define particular production and climate areas: Currán, O Rosal, Condado do Tea, Ribeira do Ulla, Val do Salnés, Soutomaior and Condado de Tea (which itself is made up of two smaller subzones—Deza and Darbo). Many wine historians contend that vines… Read more

Wine regions of Romania: Crișana Maramureș Hills

DOC regions and wine appellations The climate of Crișana-Maramureș Hills is continental with a temperate oceanic influence, with the western part of the region being cooler and the eastern side warmer. The hills are located in northern Romania, to the west of Suceava County, around Siret River (which flows through the village of Zagon). The vineyards in Crișana Maramureş Hills are planted on multiple small hillocks at altitudes between 250 and 450 meters (820 and 1,480 ft). The soils here consist mainly of sandstone with marl. Red wine varieties represent roughly 90% of planted vines. Grapes Don’t be quick to… Read more

Wine regions of France: Burgundy

Location: East-Central France Burgundy is located in east-central France, about a 2 hour train ride southeast of Paris. It is home to the cities of Dijon, Beaune, and Chalon-sur-Saone. The rolling hills of the Cote d’Or sit on a slope that runs from northwest to southeast, providing varying exposures and microclimates. Soils are primarily limestone and clay with some marlstone present. The region has many forests and lakes which contribute to its cool, continental climate. While the climate can be harsh on vines during spring months when weather is volatile, it provides warm summer days followed by cool nights with… Read more

Wine regions of New Zealand: Waitaki Valley

Location Located in the southernmost part of New Zealand’s South Island, Waitaki Valley is just a short drive from the city of Dunedin or even Christchurch. While you’re in the area, be sure to check out some of the nearby attractions. You can’t miss Moeraki Boulders, a collection of large, spherical stones that have washed up on Koekohe Beach. The stones are over 60 million years old, and their round shapes are reminiscent of eggs—which is fitting for a region known for producing egg-based pasta! If you’re planning to visit Waitaki Valley during your New Zealand excursion, it’s helpful to… Read more