Rhône

One of the demanded red wine regions in France is the Rhône, a valley that starts due south of Lyon and continues along the Rhône River until Provence.

Due to its notable length, it has varying soils, expositions, micro-climates and varieties. The north is home to appellations such as Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, St-Joseph, Cornas and features Syrah as its sole red grape. Its whites include Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier.

In its southern half of the Rhône, the wines are notably different. The vineyards are hotter, flatter and composed of different soils and varieties, such as Grenache, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Carignan as well as the ubiquitous Syrah. The resulting wines such as Châteauneuf du Pape, are rich and robust with lots of character and warmth.

Château Pesquié

Château Pesquié is a family estate located in the southern Rhône Valley, at the foot of the southern slopes of Mont Ventoux.

The management of Château Pesquié is now the responsibility of Alexandre and Frédéric Chaudière, the 3^rd generation of the family.

The vines occupy clay and limestone slopes and are among some of the last to produce fully ripened fruit in the southern Rhône Valley.

In 2003, the brothers have implemented organic viticultural methods at the estate. From 2015 they have farmed biodynamically.

Argentina

Argentina is one of the major wine countries in the world.

Out of all of the wines that Argentina produces, it is perhaps best known for creating outstanding Malbecs. They are representing almost half of red varieties cultivated area in the country.

The most highly rated Malbec wines originate from Mendoza. They are located in the foothills of the Andes mountains between 850 and 1,520 m.

A Malbec is a wine that is known for having a strong and fruity flavor and a very smooth texture and finish. It is allowing to enjoy an exciting flavor that is delightful to drink. It is a rich and dark wine that some say has a flavor that can be compared to a plum.

Achaval Ferrer

Founded in 1998, Achaval Ferrer has become one of the best producers of Argentinean wines from the Mendoza mountains.

It is a small winery – 54 hectares – focused quality.

Low yields allow the vineyards to express their personality in the grapes.

Low intervention winemaking allows the grapes to fully express their vineyard in the bottle.

The outstanding reputation came from their Fincas, single Malbec vineyards.

The vines range in age from 70 to over 110 years old and are un-grafted. Aged for 15 months in new French oak barrels.

The Fincas have their own unique personalities and profiles. However, they are united by the common threads of rich, dark berry fruit flavors and aromas. Hints of espresso and leather, and lifted with floral notes and noticeable minerality.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux, in the southwest of France, is home to some of the most famous châteaux in the world of wine. Their exceptional terroir and superlative wines have long reigned as some of the most sought after and investment-worthy.

The majority of Bordeaux wines are dry, red blends from Merlot, Cabernet-Sauvignon or Cabernet-Franc.

The finest (and most expensive) of these come from the great châteaux of the Left Bank (higher in tannins, alcohol and acidity, more on Cabernet) like Pauillac, Margaux, St Estephe or St Julien and the Right Bank (softer, less tannic and lower in alcohol and acidity. Merlot is the dominant grape), appellations of Saint-Emilion and Pomerol. They are complemented by high-quality white wines (particularly from Pessac-Leognan) and the sweet, botrytized nectars of Sauternes.

Burgundy

Burgundy (or Bourgogne in French) is a legendary wine region in eastern France.

Most of the red wines are made from pinot noir grapes and white from chardonnay grapes.

Burgundy has a higher number of AOCs than any other French region, often seen as the most terroir conscious. The various AOCs are classified from grand cru vineyards down to non-specific regional appellations.

Chablis is the furthest north-region and produces some of the greatest whites.

Further south lies the Côte d’Or, split into Côte de Nuits, home to many of the world’s finest Pinot Noir wines, and Côte de Beaune where Chardonnay plays a more prominent role, though outstanding red and white are produced throughout.

And South is the Côte Chalonnaise and the Maconnais.

Domaine Ponsot

Domaine Ponsot is a family-owned wine producer in Burgundy since 1872.

The winery is known for its red and white wines made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. It is also well-known for the Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru Clos des Monts Luisants, the only 100-percent Aligoté premier cru wine in Burgundy.

Most of the domaine’s holdings are in grand cru and premier cru vineyards, and Ponsot makes wines from such famous vineyards as Clos de la Roche, Clos de Vougeot and Corton.

Tuscany

Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history and artistic legacy. As the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, the region has an incredible art and architecture heritage.

Tuscany is certainly the most famous of all Italian regions for its wines. Sangiovese reigns in all its forms in the vineyards of Chianti but also Montepulciano and Montalcino.

It is also the land of the Super Tuscan, the Bordeaux blend style that laid the foundation of some of the greatest Italian wines.

As a pairing with these wines, Tuscany cuisine is based on simplicity but high quality and certainly topped with Tuscan olive oil, recognized all over the world.

Val di Suga

The historical winery that dates back to the 1960’s is located on the northern slope of Montalcino.

51.5 ha are divided among three vineyards (Vigna del Lago, Poggio al Granchio, Vigna Spuntali)

In 3 different winegrowing areas (Vigna Spuntali, Poggio al Granchio, Vigna del Lago) on 3 different slopes of Montalcino.

Because of the different micro-climates, soils and winemaking styles, the wines show different expressions of Sangiovese.

The cellar is ideal for enhancing the three different territorial identities.

They use modern fermenting vats, the original concrete vats and there is a bottle cellar for the long ageing of their Brunello.

3 unique vineyards, 3 slopes of the appellation, 3 landscapes, 3 microclimates, 3 terroirs, 3 different expressions of Brunello

United States

Wine has been produced in the United States since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628.

Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states but 84% of all US wine is produced in California, over 90% in the states of California, Washington, and Oregon.

The United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world.

The North American continent is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers.

Inglenook

Inglenook is a historical property in Rutherford, of California’s Napa Valley. It was established as a vineyard in 1871 and has been owned by filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola since 1975. Today, it makes a premium range of wines from classic Napa varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Zinfandel.

The flagship Rubicon wine, a Bordeaux Blend, had its first harvest in 1978 and was released in 1985. In 1995, Coppola purchased the rest of the Inglenook estate, and finally in 2011, acquired the rights to the name Inglenook. Since then, the wines have been produced under this name.

Piedmont

Located, as its name suggests, at the foot of the Alps bordering France and Switzerland, Piedmont is the second largest of Italy’s 20 regions, after Sicily.

Recognized for its industry like Fiat in Turin, Piedmont is also one of the greatest regions in the world in terms of cuisine (don’t forget the white truffles from Alba!) and wine!

With 46 DOC and 4 DOCG, Piedmont has more wine appellations than any other Italian region.

Marchesi di Gresy

The di Grésy family has owned Martinenga vineyard in Barbaresco since 1797.

In the early 1970s Alberto di Grésy realized the potential of his vineyard and decided that he had to vinify his own grapes.

In 1973 he produced his first vintage.

Marchesi di Grésy only vinifies grapes coming from its properties.

Located between Asili and Rabaja, the Martinenga cru is the only Langhe single owned “monopole”.

Piedmont

Located, as its name suggests, at the foot of the Alps bordering France and Switzerland, Piedmont is the second largest of Italy’s 20 regions, after Sicily.

Recognized for its industry like Fiat in Turin, Piedmont is also one of the greatest regions in the world in terms of cuisine (don’t forget the white truffles from Alba!) and wine!

With 42 DOC and 17 DOCG, Piedmont has more wine appellations than any other Italian region.

The most recognized grape variety is Nebbiolo named exactly for the arrival of this pre-harvest fog (called “nebbia” in Italian), which prolongs cluster hang time and allows full phenolic balance and ripeness. This grape is responsible for the exalted Piedmont wines of Barbaresco and Barolo, known for their ageability, firm tannins and hallmark aromas of tar and roses. Nebbiolo wines, despite their pale hue, pack a pleasing punch of flavor and structure. Barbaresco tends to be more elegant in style while Barolo is more powerful. Across the Tanaro River, the Roero region, and farther north, the regions of Gattinara and Ghemme, also produce excellent quality Nebbiolo.

Barbera is the most planted grape in Piedmont, beloved for its trademark high acidity, low tannin and juicy red fruit. Dolcetto, Piedmont’s other important red grape, is usually ready within a couple of years of release.

Marchesi di Gresy

Tenute Cisa Asinari dei Marchesi di Grésy has been owned by the di Grésy family since 1797.
In the early 1970s Alberto di Grésy realized the potential of his vineyard and decided that he had to vinify his own grapes. In 1973 he produced his first vintage with the objective of transferring the class and character of the terroir, vineyards and varietal into the bottle.
Marchesi di Grésy only vinifies grapes coming from its properties, 45 hectares of vineyards divided among the Martinenga, Monte Aribaldo, La Serra and Monte Colombo estates.
Located between Asili and Rabaja, the Martinenga cru is 100% owned by di Gresy family. The vineyard is the only Langhe single owned “monopole”.

Piedmont

Located, as its name suggests, at the foot of the Alps bordering France and Switzerland, Piedmont is the second largest of Italy’s 20 regions, after Sicily.

Recognized for its industry like Fiat in Turin, Piedmont is also one of the greatest regions in the world in terms of cuisine (don’t forget the white truffles from Alba!) and wine!

With 42 DOC and 17 DOCG, Piedmont has more wine appellations than any other Italian region.

Giuseppe Cortese

Since 1971, Giuseppe Cortese has been producing in the heart of “Rabajà,” a historic cru in the Barbaresco region.

Their high-quality wines from 4 hectares of vineyards benefits from a southwesterly exposure, offering optimal microclimate, soil, and ripening conditions.

The winery adheres to traditional winemaking practices while incorporating modern technology. They are ageing their wines in Slavonian oak barrels and storing them in underground cellars at ideal temperatures.

Their Chardonnay, Dolcetto, and Barbera vines, planted on the slopes opposite Trifolera, yield wines that are noted for their refined elegance and characteristic style.

South West

The South West (or ‘Sud-Ouest’) is a relatively large territorial zone of France, incorporating the administrative regions of Aquitaine, Limousin and Midi-Pyrenees but excluding Bordeaux.
South West France is a rather heterogeneous region in terms of its wines and how they are marketed. It is rare to see wines being sold as Vins du Sud-Ouest. With Bordeaux brightly highlighted wines, the south-western wine regions have been struggling for centuries to get recognition for their diverse & unique appellations.
The region’s wine portfolio, meanwhile, includes sweet wines from Jurancon; tannic, full-blooded reds from Cahors and Madiran; sparkling wines from Gaillac; and dry whites produced from a wide range of different grape varieties.

Château Bouscassé

Bouscassé is one of the big names of Madiran. The property includes 50 hectares of superb clay-limestone terroir along the cliff in the commune of Maumusson-Laguian.
In the same family for many generations, the château is owned by Alain Brumont, who is also at the head of Château Montus.