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 3rd 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.

Alsace

Alsace region can be found in the very eastern side of France in a valley along the Rhine River. On the other side of the river is Baden, a German region that produces wines in a similar style.

Recognized in 1962, today the protected designation of origin AOC Alsace represents 72% of the production. About 90% of the wine produced is white.

Vines were grown on 15,600 hectares in 119 villages. Mainly 7 grape varieties

In contrast to other parts of France where wines take their name from their regions of production, Alsace wines are labelled by grape variety.

Boeckel

The Boeckel family, established in Mittelbergheim-Alsace for almost 500 years, founded the commercial enterprise in 1853.

At the end of the 19th century a large part of wines was already bottled and exported.

Today Jean-Daniel and Thomas Boeckel continue to produce high quality wines on 24 hectares of vineyards. They are all cultivated according to the rules of the organic farming.

The aging process sets the Boeckel wines apart from other wine producers. They are aged for 12 months or longer in large oak casks of 75 years. Boeckel wines, controlled to perfection, are recognized by their perfection.

Lombardy

Lombardy is the most populous, richest and most productive region in the country. 16.2% of the national population (10 million people) live there and create 21% of the total GDP.

The region is an important producer of wines but not really well recognized except Franciacorta, the Italy’s most prestigious sparkling wines.

If Italy is known for its spaghettis, Rice is very popular in the region, often found in soups as well as risotti, such as “risotto alla milanese”, with saffron. Butter is used, no olive oil!

The region is famous for its historical figures such as Virgil, Pliny the Elder, Caravaggio, Claudio Monteverdi, Antonio Stradivari, Alessandro Volta and popes John XXIII and Paul VI.

Berlucchi

Berlucchi is the history of the classic Italian sparkling wine and Franciacorta.

“What if we make a French-style sparkling wine?” This was the question that young oenologist Franco Ziliani asked Guido Berlucchi at the end of the 1950s.

Guido Berlucchi liked the idea to use his not too stable white wine.

After a few experiments, almost 3,000 bottles arrived in 1961. “We’ll be drinking them for the next 20 years!” Fortunately, he was wrong.

Today, Guido Berlucchi means 4 million Franciacorta bottles every year. More than 12 million bottles rest in the cellar.

Berlucchi has received many awards like “Winery of the Year” by Gambero Rosso in 2022.

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.

Ornellaia

In 1981, Marchese Lodovico Antinori planted the first French vines in Bolgheri, which lies in the heart of Tuscany’s coastal region, Maremma.

The property is adjacent to Tenuta San Guido, producer of Sassicaia.

The estate yields some of the finest Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc in Tuscany.

In 2005, Marchesi de’ Frescobaldi became the owner of Tenuta dell’Ornellaia.

Ornellaia established itself among the iconic wine estates in Italy is producing charming and opulent wines.

Sicily

The largest Mediterranean island, separated from the Italian peninsula by the very narrow Messina strait, Sicily is probably among the richest regions in history, art and cultural heritage, a mosaic of colours and contrasts.

According to legend, it was Dionysus (Bacchus) who brought pleasure to mankind, and wine to Sicily.

In the past, Sicily was famous for its Marsala and cheap bulk wines. Over the last 30 years, however, Sicily’s wine culture has changed dramatically and is now considered as one of the best regions.

The Sicilian has the largest vineyard in all of Italy. It is three times the size of the vineyard in New Zealand, larger than vineyard in South Africa and equivalent to the vineyard in Germany.

Donnafugata

Established in 1983 by Giacomo Rallo, the winery is now led by José and Antonio.

Donnafugata boasts vineyards in Contessa Entellina, nestled in the heart of western Sicily, as well as on Pantelleria island, situated between Sicily and Africa.

The 2016 harvest marked a milestone for Donnafugata, fulfilling the aspiration to produce wines in eastern Sicily with the distinguished Etna, Cerasuolo, and Frappato di Vittoria appellations.

The name Donnafugata, meaning ‘lady in flight,’ originates from the novel ‘Il Gattopardo’ and alludes to the tale of a queen who sought sanctuary in what are now the company’s vineyards, a narrative that also inspired the company’s logo.

Puglia

Puglia, also known as Apulia, is in the south of Italy; the heel of Italy’s boot.
The region is becoming increasingly popular as travellers discover the area’s varied charms: baroque towns, white-washed trullo houses, olive groves and orchards, blue sea and beaches, plenty of sunshine and excellent wines & cuisine.
Some of the best values Italian wine come from this sunny, dry region. Most Puglia wine is red, full-bodied. Producers in Puglia have focused on local grapes like Negroamaro, Primitivo, and Bombino Nero.
The two most popular and widely available wines from Puglia are Salice Salentino and Primitivo (the same grape as California’s Zinfandel!).

Varvaglione

Varvaglione was founded in 1921 in Leporano, in the heart of Puglia, at the gates of the splendid Salento. Now in the hands of Cosimo and Maria Teresa Varvaglione, the estate comprises of 150 hectares, focused on indigenous varieties such as Primitivo and Negroamaro.

Working closely with the University of Udine and the University of Rome Tor Vergata to enhance quality, the company has been able to blend the experience of tradition with innovation.

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.

Domaine de La Solitude

La Solitude belongs to one of the oldest families of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Their history goes back to the XVth century. From generation to generation, the Estate is still a family affair and is now run by Florent Lançon.
La Solitude stretches over 37 hectares of the best terroirs in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The domain begins on “La Crau”, high terraces of the Rhône and then descends into the valley of la Solitude. It is a patchwork of terroirs ranging from sandy soils (safres) to clay and pebbles (galets roulés). Thirteen different grape varieties are cultivated there!
The vineyard has been practising organic viticulture for a long time and will be officially certified from 2021 vintage and biodynamic from 2022.

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.

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.

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.