Wine Terroirs

For many years, Beaujolais was considered a cheap and cheerful wine, and was highly underrated. And yet, it is home to 10 superior growths or Crus which enhance this endearing wine region, that for too long has remained in the shadows of neighbouring Burgundy. Each Cru has a distinctive identity and the sum of their talents creates incredible variety, stemming from highly specific vineyard sites.

Island viticulture has always been judged separately from regions which have not been ‘isolated’ by the sea. Italy has two very important islands which represent two of the most interesting regions from a national winegrowing perspective – Sicily and Sardinia.

Italy has a very particular orographic conformation, in the shape of a ‘T’ formed by the Alpine arc that traces a horizontal line to the North and the Apennines that run longitudinally from North to South. Mountain viticulture has a fundamental impact on the general picture of Italian winegrowing.

Over the past few years, Bordeaux has had to contend with numerous challenges, ranging from ‘Bordeaux bashing’ in France to climate change, Brexit, the political crisis in Hong Kong, Trump taxes and the global pandemic. More than any other wine region, Bordeaux is France’s vinous showcase around the world, so how are markets performing in 2021 and what solutions have been devised to cope with these issues? To find out the real consequences of this string of crises, we interviewed a number of industry players. Here’s what they told us.

Cava has become a household name across the globe in recent years, providing consumers with an affordable sparkling wine that can be enjoyed on numerous occasions. But faced with increased competition, the appellation’s authorities have been prompted to make some major changes to regulations, aimed at enhancing quality and provenance. We ask a range of Cava producers what the changes imply for them.

This historic wine region enjoyed its golden era from the 17th to the 19th century, before it was devastated by phylloxera, then undermined by 40 years of Soviet rule. Since 1990, Tokaj has recovered its prestige, not only thanks to the wines for which it is renowned, but also through innovative fine dry white and sparkling wines.