A journey of sensory discovery

Map The Wine

Wine regions of Portugal: Lisboa

The Lisboa wine region is the largest wine producing region in Portugal and is located on the west coast. Lisboa is the largest wine region in Portugal, covering over 4400 acres of red and white grapes, which yields a staggering 810 million bottles of wine annually. Portugal produces more table grapes than any other country, with 94% of these being table grapes for wine production. There are two main types of grapes: those used for sparkling wines such as Vinho Verde and rosé, and those used for making red table wines such as the Port, Tinto and Vinho. Many Portuguese… Read more

Wine regions of Italy: Veneto

Veneto is in the far north-east of Italy, stretching from the Dolomites mountains to the Adriatic coast. The Veneto region is one of 20 regions in Italy, and it is situated in the far north-east corner of the country. It borders Trentino-Alto Adige to the north and Friuli Venezia Giulia to the east, and it stretches from the Dolomites mountains to the Adriatic coast. Veneto is the fifth largest region in Italy, with an area of 18,398 square kilometers. The region’s vineyards are mostly in the eastern half of the region, along a band running from Lake Garda to Treviso.… Read more

Wine regions of China: Hebei

The Hebei region borders Beijing to the north and Tianjin to the southeast. Hebei province is located in the north of China and borders Beijing to the north and Tianjin to the southeast. The city of Beijing is located within the Hebei province and is known as the capital city of China, as well as being one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China (the other three are Nanjing, Luoyang and Kaifeng). Tianjin is also one of four municipalities directly under the central government’s administration (the other three are Beijing, Shanghai, and Chongqing) with a population surpassing 10 million.… Read more

Wine regions of Chile: Maipo Valley

Chile’s oldest wine region. The Maipo Valley is home to Chile’s oldest winemaking tradition. It was here, in the late 16th century, that Jesuit missionaries founded Santiago, the country’s capital city and a location that straddles the Maipo River. The missionaries soon planted vines in their mission gardens and began making wine for use in religious services. In 1740, Don Baltazar Reyes bought some land on the eastern edge of Santiago and established what would become Chile’s first commercial winery: Santa Ana (now owned by Concha y Toro). The Maipo Valley is only half an hour from Santiago and its… Read more

Wine regions of Germany: Hessische Bergstraße

Hessische Bergstraße We’ve visited many wine regions in Germany, and our favorite has to be the Hessische Bergstraße. This region is located in the northern part of Germany, nestled between Hessen (Hesse) and Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony). It’s home to a variety of different areas with outstanding grape varieties and wines. The villages are connected through a network of hiking trails, which can make for great scenic drives. The gentle rivers that wind through the wine regions provide excellent water for irrigation as well as recreation. Location: The Hessische Bergstraße wine region is in the state of Hesse, with a small… Read more

Wine regions of New Zealand: Auckland

The Auckland region is New Zealand’s biggest wine region. As well as producing large quantities of wine, it produces excellent quality wines, particularly whites. The Auckland region is New Zealand’s biggest wine region. As well as producing large quantities of wine, it produces excellent quality wines, particularly whites. It is mainly located around the city of Auckland and stretches across the “Hauraki Gulf” – an arm of the sea which separates the North Island from many offshore islands (including Waiheke Island). Auckland city itself has one large winery and several boutique wineries within its boundaries, but the majority are located… Read more

Wine regions of New Zealand: Northland

Northland is New Zealand’s northernmost wine region. It is the smallest, and the only one that doesn’t have a recognised sub-region. Northland is New Zealand’s northernmost wine region. It is the smallest, and the only one that doesn’t have a recognised sub-region. The climate of Northland is warm, with abundant rainfall and a high level of humidity in most areas. All these factors mean that it can be difficult to grow grapevines here, but the grapes that do make it through are picked at full ripeness by hand. This means that the resulting wines are quite complex, with a lot… Read more

Wine regions of France: Champagne

Champagne is a region in the northeast of France, bordering Belgium. Champagne is a region in the northeast of France, bordering Belgium. The Champagne wine region, which mainly produces sparkling wines, is situated about 120 miles east of Paris and about 150 miles south of Calais making it far enough away from the English Channel to avoid being too cold for vineyards to thrive. The Champagne wine region is one of France’s most important wine-producing areas. In fact this relatively small region boasts more than 300 million bottles produced annually from around 100,000 acres of vineyards. The majority of these… Read more

Wine regions of China: Shandong

Shandong, at a glance Shandong is the region that will get you the most bang for your buck if you’re planning on buying wine. From a climate perspective, Shandong is in a band of warm, dry weather patterns known as a “monsoonal microclimate.” The summers are fairly comfortable, with little to no humidity and plenty of sunshine. The winter is also enjoyable thanks to its mild temperatures, great winds and even better wines. In regards to grapes, there are actually two varieties of grapes used in Shandong—the Bohea and the Yancha. Both are in part responsible for the wonderful red… Read more

Wine regions of Portugal: Alentejo

Location Alentejo is a region located in the south of Portugal. It has a hot and dry climate, which makes it perfect for growing grapes. The Alentejo plains are covered with cork oak groves while the eastern hillsides are characterized by olive groves and vineyards. While its neighbor, Porto, is known for sweet wines, you can find a variety of whites and reds in Alentejo. The first step to understanding wine is knowing where it comes from. The more you know about a region’s history, culture and geography, the better you’ll be able to make sense of its wine offerings.… Read more