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Wine regions of Spain: Toro DO

Located in the western central part of Spain, Toro is a region with ancient roots. The Toro DO is located in the western central part of Spain, just south of Zamora. It has ancient roots with a documented history that traces back to the Roman Empire. The Toro DO is home to some of the world’s best Tempranillo wines. While most Spanish Tempranillos are aged in American oak barrels and display a fruit-forward profile, Toro wines behave more like their neighbors across the Portuguese border, boasting intense earthy flavors and being aged mostly in French oak. When it comes to… Read more

Wine regions of Italy: Trentino-Alto Adige

This region is split between two unique cultures and cuisines. Trentino-Alto Adige is a unique wine region in a number of ways, but one of the things that sets it apart from other Italian wine regions are its two distinct cultures. This part of Italy was historically under Austrian rule and thus has strong roots in Austrian culture and cuisine. The vineyards here are also located near the Swiss border, which is another source of influence for the wines produced here. While this region is best known for traditional Germanic-style varietals such as Gewurtztraminer and Kerner, the landscape offers plenty… Read more

Wine regions of Hungary: Balaton

Balaton (Lake Balaton) is the largest lake in Central Europe. Lake Balaton is the largest lake in Central Europe, covering about 217 square miles. It was formed by volcanoes about 1.5 million years ago, and is fed by underground springs. The lake is relatively shallow at only 12 feet deep on average and 75 miles long with a maximum width of 8 miles. Lake Balaton is located in a volcanic region at the western boundary of the Carpathian Mountain Range and the Transdanubian Mountains on the border between Hungary, Austria and Slovakia. The Balaton wine-growing area is located in a… Read more

Wine regions of France: The Loire Valley

The Loire Valley is a wine region that spans from the Loire River in the north to the Atlantic Ocean in the south, where it borders with the Burgundy region. The Loire Valley is a wine region that spans from the Loire River in the north to the Atlantic Ocean in the south, where it borders with the Burgundy region. The Loire River is the longest river in France, an important artery for transportation of goods and supplies. For this reason, many towns settled along its banks and helped boost local economies of these areas. The river itself also played… Read more

Wine regions of Hungary: Tokaj

Tokaj is a historical wine region located in north-eastern Hungary. Tokaj is a historical wine region located in north-eastern Hungary, close to the border with Slovakia. It is also one of the seven Hungarian wine regions and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since December 2002. The wine region is well-known for its sweet wines made from grapes affected by noble rot, or Botrytis cinerea. Sweet white wines are known as Tokaji Aszú, while dry reds are called Tokaji Bikavér or Bull’s Blood. Tokaj has also produced sparkling wines in the past – known as Sekt – but this… Read more

Wine regions of Italy: Umbria

History Umbria’s wine industry has a long history. The Etruscans, the Romans and the Greeks all planted vines in the region. Monasteries played an important role in early viticulture, especially during the Dark Ages when much of Europe was forced to abandon wine production. Between 1520 and 1860 wine production in Umbria fell by 80 percent as it was diverted to other crops such as olives, corn and wheat. In 1880 a phylloxera epidemic devastated vineyards all over Europe, but growers were slow to take measures to protect their vines because they thought it would be costly. As a result… Read more

Wine regions of New Zealand: Hawke’s Bay

New Zealand’s oldest wine region, Hawke’s Bay is on the east coast of North Island and is dominated by the Ngaruroro and Tutaekuri river valleys. Hawke’s Bay is the oldest wine region in New Zealand, located on the east coast of North Island and dominated by the Ngaruroro and Tutaekuri river valleys. The climate is warm and dry, with a Mediterranean style climate (warm dry summers with low rainfall and cool wet winters): ideal for growing variety of grape varieties. Hawke’s Bay grows around 60% red wine varieties – mainly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.… Read more

Wine regions of the United States: Michigan

Overview You might not immediately think of Michigan when you think of wine, but the Great Lake State lives up to its name in this regard. It is the 11th largest state by area in the country and is known for its four distinct seasons (with some folks engaging in a friendly debate as to which one is their favorite). It’s divided into two peninsulas by Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, with Lansing being its capital city. The state has a long history with wine dating back to the 1800s where it was produced commercially, though prohibition forced many winemakers… Read more

Wine regions of New Zealand: Central Otago

Wine region: Central Otago This is the Central Otago wine region. The largest, oldest and southernmost of New Zealand’s regions, Central Otago includes a number of smaller areas: Alexandra District, Cromwell Basin, Wanaka, Bannockburn and Gibbston. Central Otago has around 170 producers with vineyards covering 1,400 hectares and over 60 wineries. It produces around 2 million liters of wine per year. Of this amount, 90 percent comes from Pinot Noir grapes that thrive in its climate. The region produces roughly 500 labels each year and exports 30 percent of them to countries including Australia, the United Kingdom and the United… Read more

Wine regions of the United States: Oregon

Oregon is widely recognized as one of the world’s premier Pinot Noir–producing regions. It’s a fitting moniker for the state that produces 90% of all Pinot Noir in the United States. We’ll give you a full rundown on what makes Oregon Pinot Noir so special, but let’s start with the basics. Pinot Noir is one of the most popular red wine grape varieties all over the world. It is a difficult grape to grow and has many different clones with varying degrees of quality, so it can be grown successfully in a number of places around the globe. While California… Read more