An obscure white grape variety found almost exclusively in north east Italy and across the border in Slovenia. It typically makes a deep colored, light bodied wine with high acidity, exotic fruit (papaya and mango) and floral notes. Those looking for something a little different are well-rewarded with a Ribolla Gialla.
Winelovers and winemakers the world over consider Riesling one of the noblest grapes for a number of obvious reasons. First for its transparency, i.e: its ability to create distinctive wines that express the soils and conditions in which it was grown; second for its ability to make superb wines whether dry, sweet, in-between or sparkling; thirdly for its ability to age brilliantly for many years: the noble white wine trifecta. Associated historically with Germany where it is considered their best …
Arguably Spain’s most famous wine region, located in the North end of the country. The Cantabrian mountains shelter the region from cool and wet weather from the Atlantic making the area quite warm and dry. The region is a predominantly red region. In addition to Tempranillo and Garnacha (Grenache), Graciano and Mazuelo (Carignan) are also used in red wines. All top-end red Rioja wine is matured in new oak barrels; American oak is the traditional preference, but many wineries now …
Riverland, the most productive part of the South Eastern Australia GI, is a vast sprawling sea of vines straddling the Murray River from the town of Morgan in the west, eastward right to the state border with Victoria where the vineyard tracts continue but now fall under the Murray-Darling GI designation. Dependent on the Murray for irrigation and largely producing bulk wines and undistinguished blends, yet the region produces a few wines of note and is responsible for a number …
A venerable old white wine grape from the northern Rhône valley, Roussanne suffered in terms of acreage lost after the ravages of phylloxera as many growers chose not to replant it, opting for the much easier to grow Marsanne. But in the 1980s, improvements in viticulture and the growing success of the vine in the southern Rhône spurred many vignerons to try growing it again. The reason was obvious: Marsanne, its traditional blending partner in top Rhône whites like Hermitage …
Small wine region located an hour west of Chile’s capital, Santiago. The climate is heavily influenced by the effects of the ocean. The Humbolt Current brings cool morning mists and spring frosts, and is largely responsible for making viticulture possible here, as the valley is located much closer to the Equator than any European vineyard. Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are the main varieties grown in the San Antonio Valley.
Tuscany’s most famous grape Sangiovese means the “blood of Jove” and is best known as the only component of Brunello di Montalcino and Rosso di Montalcino and the main component of the blends Chianti, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano and Morellino di Scansano. It is known for fresh fruity flavors of strawberry and a little spiciness, but it readily takes on oaky, even tarry, flavors when aged in barrels. While not as aromatic as other red wine varieties such as Pinot …
Santa Barbara, both a state county as well as an AVA, is the southernmost quality wine production area in California and is home to the Santa Maria and Santa Ynez valleys. Despite being quite a bit south of Sonoma and Napa, Santa Barbara is a peninsula that protrudes into the cool Pacific and its relatively low-lying topography allows cold ocean breezes and often sea fog to roll remarkably far inland. This effect combined with a low annual rainfall allows for …
Just south of San Luis Obispo, the Santa Maria Valley is the most densely planted vineyard area in Santa Barbara county. Cool breezes and fog rolls into the valley almost every day, keeping acids crisp and extending the growing season perfectly. One of the most interesting facets of Santa Maria is that, while there are a number of well-known wineries here, the fame of the region began with its large, well-regarded independent vineyards like Bien Nacido which sell grapes to …
Santorini is a volcanic island south of Greece part of which that is thought to have been formed as recently as 1640 BC as a result of the same cataclysmic volcanic eruption that destroyed Minoan culture on the island of Crete. This is noteworthy, wine-wise, because the high levels of post-eruption sulfur found everywhere here almost ensure that ambient yeast fermentations will not succeed. As well, the low levels of potassium in the volcanic soil ensures that there is no …
