A taste that reminds us of a favourite holiday is always welcome.
That’s why Joe Fattorini, co-host of ITV4’s The Wine Show, has teamed up with Celebrity Cruises to reveal the very best wine destinations around the world, all of which will provide memories for a life time.
To achieve great tastes, these wines are inspired by the beautiful world around them, from volcanic vineyards to spectacular sparkling wines. Explore these little-known places that are big news in the world of wine.
Mount Etna, Italy
Mount Etna is fast becoming an innovative hub for wine-making and a great way to mix your love of wine with your love of adventure. Volcanic wines are on trend and a marvel to see, and the steeply-sloped vineyards on the side of the mountain coupled with the highly nutritious volcanic soil provides a delicious and complex flavour to the wine.
Joe’s top tip is Frappato: “It’s a versatile, medium bodied style that is best served slightly chilled with light meals such as salads and grills. Like a warm-climate Pinot Noir, with delicious strawberry fruit and a versatile, medium-bodied style”.
For the perfect mix of dynamic landscapes and impressive wine-making, make sure to visit Mount Etna.
Santorini, Greece
Santorini is known for its beautiful landscapes and views, but it’s only recently making a name for itself in the wine world. There are some delicious wines being made including the sweet wine Vinsanto.
Joe describes Vinsanto as a “distinct and funky flavour influenced by the ash and pumice from volcanic eruptions on the island from years ago. This sweet wine is aged for anything between 4 and 40 years in barrels which makes for an unctuous, complex, multi-layered wine”.
The landscape is beautiful, the wine is sweet and the history is rich. With one of the most remarkable and well-documented histories of wine on this list, dating back to 1540 BCE, this is a must for history buffs.
Venice, Italy
Who doesn’t want to see Venice? There’s breath-taking architecture and beautiful Canals, but what might surprise you is the vineyards nestled in the lagoon by the city. This is where Dorona, a medieval grape, is produced and uniquely bottled with a single gold leaf label – Joe recommends it if you fancy an earthier, more complex Soave-like wine.
It’s a fantastic destination with equally great restaurants, so you can really take your taste buds on a delicious adventure.
British Columbia, Canada
Thanks to climate change, wine production is marching ever northwards into regions that were previously too cold. This means that wine-lovers, who are normally used to heading to warmer climates, can start venturing into new destinations.
British Columbia in Canada is a fantastic example of this, where you can find wonderful Pinot Noirs, Rieslings and Chardonnays all with their own unique styles which reflect the unique area.
Joe is particularly enthused by the opening up of this new region: “What’s so wonderful is that winemakers are finding their own, bigger, richer distinctive style which is all down to the unique climate and soils of British Columbia”.
Tasmania, Australia
If you love your Champagne but are looking for somewhere a little different to enjoy something delicious and sparkling – Tasmania is the place to head.
Another cooler region that is coming into its own, this temperate climate is perfect for sparkling wines. The Jansz vineyards, in the north of the island, were the first to make sparkling wine in the traditional Champagne method, using the same grapes that the French Champagne vineyards use.
The vineyard’s technique is so authentic and close to that of the French vineyards, that they have even coined the term ‘Méthode Tasmanoise’. It’s one of Joe’s favourites: “It’s a great, ripe alternative to Champagne, but don’t expect it to be the same. It has more fruit and ripeness – a really gorgeous wine”.
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