There are many ways to learn of local culture, and one of the best way is through its food and drink offerings. To go even deeper, to explore the flavors of a country is to from the soil up through its vineyards.
To most people knowledge, Europe has been dubbed is the wine capital of the world, and in the past times, wine was option only for the haves. That’s the old-world region. Because, in today’s world, wine tourism today can be found on nearly every continent with a varying range of budgets.
Old World Wine Regions
Bordeaux (France)
Bordeaux in France is said to be world wine capital, the city of Bordeaux looks resplendent in its 18th-century grandeur. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 2007. Bordeaux is also the gateway to the most famous vineyards in the world with many exceptional treasures to discover. Bordeaux is the native home of grapes renowned the world over, most notably Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc.
Tuscany (Italy)
The best Chianti wine can be found in the Tuscan town it is named after, Greve in Chianti. There is no shortage of cantinas (wine cellars) here, and if you’re looking to get educated on wine production in the region, vineyards such as the Montefioralle Winery offer tours and wine tastings.
New World Wine Regions
California, US
California is the largest and most important wine region in the USA. It accounts for the southern two-thirds of the country's west coast. Californian wines rose to global table in the past few decades. Today, California hosts some of the world's largest wine companies. It is also home to a number of boutique wineries, some of which attract astronomical prices for their cult wines. Whether through mass production or single-vineyard artisanal winemaking, California produces 90 percent of American-made wine. It also supplies more than 60 percent of all wine consumed in the country.
Australia
The three major wine regions in Australia by shear volume are South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria.
South Australia and New South Wales are known for their warmer climate varieties such as Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon whereas Victoria is known for cool climate-loving Pinot Noir.
Yamanashi, Japan.
Although grape cultivation has a long history in Japan, wine production didn’t kick off until the second half of the 19th century. Château Mercian, in the heart of the Yamanashi wine region, is among the most internationally recognized Japanese wineries and has its own museum, which is free to all visitors.
Emerging wine region
Bali, Indonesia.
There is broad perception that Indonesia as a predominantly Muslim country holds no opportunities for wine production. That’s in the past. Indonesia’s wine production industry may be limited, but winemaking in Bali are thriving. Cape Discovery is one outstanding sample. When Cape Discovery first explored the idea of producing wines in Indonesia, it concluded that Indonesia offers very limited scope for traditional viticulture. Therefore, the company decided to take a radically new approach, and bring the best vineyards from around the world to Indonesia.
The journey starts by growing wine grapes and establishing relationships with other growers in various wine regions around the world, such as Australia, France or New Zealand. The company blast-freezes the grapes immediately to capture the quality and integrity of the fruit at the moment it’s harvested. From this point on, Cape Discovery grapes start their journey to the company’s state-of-the-art winery in Northern Bali.
