Magazine

From wheat farms to groundbreaking wine farms, traditional farmers to rebels with an old vine cause, the Swartland grew from being perceived as a relatively obscure winemaking region to a world phenomenon. To maintain their sustainable evolution and how they do business, the Swartland further evolved into a globally recognized hub for exceptional, terroir-driven wines and business models, adding to its success.

Germany is considered to be a notoriously difficult market in the consumer arena. In the 1990s, supermarket chains Migros (Switzerland), Delhaize (Belgium/USA) and Intermarché (France) successively attempted to enter the German market. Without success. Discount prices by rival companies and brand loyalty among German consumers proved to be insurmountable obstacles. But what about the Germans' taste in wine? Perhaps there is an opening for exporters, especially as domestic production, at 9 million hectolitres, only accounts for just under half of what Germans drink each year. So which wines do Germans prefer? Gilbert & Gaillard asked the experts in Germany.

Let’s be honest – there are no superstar red wines from the Loire Valley. No local equivalent of the Rhone’s Côte-Rôtie or Bordeaux’s Saint-Emilion. But what there is, is a profusion of talent.

Bright color, light salmon pink. Inviting nose combining small red fruits, hints of fresh tobacco, and dried herbs. Lively palate focusing on intense and seductive fruit, with a crisp and joyful style. Enjoyable to taste at the table.

Independent through to the 16th century, the Kingdom of Navarre was established in 824 by the Vascones, the ancestors of the present-day Basques.

This much-coveted region located in the north of present-day Spain has been invaded multiple times, by assailants travelling from Africa, Northern and Eastern Europe.