A journey of sensory discovery

Map The Wine

Wine regions of the United States: Ohio

The Ohio wine industry is more than 175 years old Ohio is the birthplace of wine in the United States, and it’s home to more than 25,000 acres of vineyards. Ohio is a cradle of American viticulture that has led the nation in wine production for approximately 200 years. Ohio produces roughly $800 million worth of wine each year and also boasts one-third of all American wineries. The state’s long history with viticulture has earned it the nickname “Vineyard State.” The Catawba grape, a hardy hybrid that ripens early, was the first commercial wine-making grape grown in Ohio; native Isabella… Read more

Wine regions of Germany: Mittelrhein

Mittelrhein (Middle Rhine) The Middle Rhine Valley, the largest of Germany’s wine regions with its 1,800 hectares of vineyards and over 300 wineries. It is located in the Federal State of Rheinland-Pfalz and occupies a narrow strip between Bingen and Bonn on both sides of the river. The Upper Rhine runs through it for about 40 miles (65km). The Middle Rhine Valley is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site because of its spectacular scenery, castles, palaces and vineyards. The region offers diverse conditions for growing grapes: sunny slopes with many locations at an altitude of 200 to 450… Read more

Wine regions of Germany: Mosel

Mosel Wine Region The Mosel wine region lies along the valley of the Mosel River and its tributaries, which are called Saar and Ruwer. The vineyards stretch from Trier on the river’s upper reaches all the way to Koblenz in Middle Rhine. Famous producers include: Willi Haag, Dr Loosen and Zilliken. Their wines are expensive but worth it! I particularly enjoy their Riesling style wines. Wine Appellations of Mosel Beyond the part of Germany that surrounds the Rhine River, there is a large area known as Mosel. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it has swaths of vineyards nestled along its… Read more

Wine regions of Romania: Oltenia Hills

Most famous wine regions in the world. It’s understandable if you haven’t heard of Oltenia Hills, a wine region in Romania. Thanks to cultural barriers, Romania is only now starting to show up on the radar for wine lovers around the world. However, it has long been a favorite region among those who have visited. Situated in the south and east of Romania, the Oltenia Hills are part of a larger range called the Southern Carpathian Mountains. The hills provide ideal conditions for growing grapes that are primarily used in red wines that feature robust flavors with hints of cherry… 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 Germany: Rheingau

Location The Rheingau is a region for quality wine in Germany, situated around Wiesbaden, between Rüdesheim and Lorch along the Rhine river. The region has been connected with wine since the Middle Ages, but only in recent years has it been globally recognized as a high-quality wine location. The reason for this was in part due to the area’s long history of winemaking and viticulture, which can be traced back at least 1,000 years. Location: Rheingau Rheingau is located in the state of Hesse, in between Rheinhessen and Rheingau. The area stretches from Wiesbaden in the north to Lorchhausen in… Read more

Wine regions of South Africa: Constantia

Location Perhaps the most famous of its kind, Constantia is one of South Africa’s oldest wine regions, and it’s in the Western Cape province. It is situated on the slopes around Table Mountain and is a suburb of Cape Town. Constantia boasts some of the most iconic wineries in South Africa because of the age and history behind them. Groot Constantia Klein Constantia Buitenverwachting Steenberg Vineyards Beau Constantia History One of the most important wine regions in South Africa, Constantia is home to some of the oldest vineyards in the country. In fact, the first vines were planted here by… Read more

Wine regions of Portugal: Tejo

Tejo In the spring, Portugal’s wine regions spring to life. After a long, gray winter in northern Europe, the country’s warmest time of year is a tantalizing promise of sweet wines and lush vineyards. The Ribatejo region is no exception. In fact, it has one of the largest areas devoted to wine production in all of Portugal—more than 80 percent of the country’s total area under cultivation. Friends describe it as beautiful and inviting, with rolling hills that are ripe for taming with grapes. “I’m really happy here,” says Joao Carlos Gomes Sousa Nunes, a local winemaker who lives in… Read more

Wine regions of Romania: Dobrogea Hills

Dobrogea Hills is a new wine region in Romania. This is a new wine region, officially recognized in 2018. It is located in the south of the Black Sea coast and includes 24 villages with a total area of 5000 hectares. This new region has great potential because it is close to the Black Sea and has a Mediterranean influence which means that conditions are similar to those found in other parts of Europe such as Spain, France or Italy. It is situated in the south of the Romanian Black Sea Coast, between Mangalia and Vama Veche, with 24 villages… Read more

Wine regions of Romania: The Danube Terraces

The Danube Terraces Located in the south of Romania, the Dobrogea region is home to the Danube Terraces. This wine region is hilly and located on the Danube’s terraces. The Danube River creates a natural boundary between Romania and Bulgaria, so this region is bordered by steep vineyards on one side while it overlooks the sleepy village of Cernavoda to its north. There are six subregions that make up this wine area: Silistra, Fetesti-Cernavoda, Tulcea-Murighiol, Niculițel-Măcin, Macin Mountains and Babadag. Situation Location The vineyards are located in the northern part of Romania, on the terraces overlooking the Danube river. They… Read more