Discovery

So far in 2022, Germany is experiencing the hottest and, above all, driest summer since weather records began. Weeks without any rain, forest fires, historically low river levels and shallow-rooted plants withered - all the result of 40 days at over 30°C. Under these conditions, it seems a little cynical to call Germany a possible ‘winner of global warming’. But climate is a long-term matter, and many people – German winegrowers included – quickly forget that only a year ago, in early summer 2021, they had complained about fungal pressure in the vineyards caused by high rainfall and humidity.

Founded by Christopher Vanpoulle in 2010 to promote Iberian wines worldwide, in just a few years Very Fine Vinos has successfully carved out a prime position for itself in the Spanish wine arena. It has even become the official wine distributor of MasterChef, an institution in the country. Despite its success, the company has always favoured quality over quantity and demonstrates a new way of viewing distribution, one that is based on trust, interaction with people and good wine. After the untimely passing of its founder, the company is determined more than ever to continue on its journey.

Aragon wines hail from one of Spain’s oldest wine regions and were long renowned for their high alcohol levels and very rustic characters. But the tide is turning and over the past decade, they have been increasingly garnering accolades in international competitions and sparking excitement among critics, due to the efforts of several winegrowers, and often by co-operatives, who have successfully promoted local grape varieties.

Greece has, arguably, one of the longest wine histories in the world. Wine has been an integral part of Greek culture since Antiquity. In the last four decades, a wind of change has been blowing through the Greek wine world. Today, Greece produces wine for wine connoisseurs, traditional wine enthusiasts, New World aficionados… pretty much for everyone. It is worthwhile getting to know the wines, and enjoying them this summer.

The spirit of Provence lies in its wealth of culture, its distinctively French lifestyle and its incredibly varied, stunning scenery. Its pale-hued rosés have taken the world by storm but it is also replete with less publicised treasures and singular vineyard sites and wines which have forged a strong identity for the region, and made it a prime location for wine.

Savoy is France’s smallest wine region and has made a name for itself as a fount of zippy white wines, whose light, fresh characters have made them undeniable crowd-pleasers. Altesse and Jacquère are the star performers in the region’s mountain vineyards, and here’s what to expect from them.