People love to support small, family-run wineries. But if you truly believe in fighting for the little guy, it’s time to give cooperative wineries a second look.

Cooperative Wineries

Cooperative wineries are joint ventures owned by several (up to hundreds) of members. The concept is simple, pool resources and costs for winemaking and marketing. The formation and rise of cooperatives in Europe happened after the 1930s. Members are made up of wine growers of various sizes that don’t have the knowledge or desire to bottle and market their own wine.

People would be surprised to know cooperative wineries are responsible for around 50% of all the wine produced in both Italy and France. In Spain and Portugal, those numbers can get closer to 60%. In Germany, fruit from about one-third of the countries vineyards ends up in cooperative wineries.

Cooperatives often have members that are small growers who work with unique or forgotten varieties. In essence, they become stewards of these unique grapes. Small producers may pull some of these varieties in favor of more marketable grapes.

When well run, cooperative wineries produce excellent wines at great prices. From everyday bottles to wines that can age in the cellar. I’ve had magical bottles from Italian cooperatives like Produttori del Barbaresco (Piedmont), Cantina Terlano & Cantina Tramin (Trentino-Alto Adige), and Santadi (Sardinia). These cooperatives make wine that can rival those from small producers around the world.

Cooperatives: Advantages

The trend in both food and wine is all about supporting the small farmer. In the wine industry, that is what cooperative wineries are all about. I’d like to see more awareness and support of cooperatives, especially those that are well run. They offer a scale and price points that individual estates might find hard to match.

Tessa Donnadieu, the Export Manager at the cooperative Vinchio Vaglio Serra, agrees. “I have been working for Italian coops for 11 years (before with Clavesana now Vinchio Vagiol Serra). I believe in the concept of community and the incredible potential of the wines,” she says.

Nicola Thornton bottles wine under her label Botas de Barro (muddy boots) in Spain. She thinks cooperative wineries have some distinct advantages in the marketplace. “Price, volume, quality. They (coops) are in the BEST position because of access to fruit in volumes that other producers would find hard to accumulate,” she says.

While many people equate vineyard attention and care with small private wineries. Nicola insists that the same kind of attention happens with growers that contribute to coops too. “Each farmer looks after his own vineyards on a relatively small scale and many have a special link and knowledge to each parcel, ” she adds.

But… Is The Wine Good?

All of this sounds great but we all want to know one thing. Is the wine delicious?

During my tastings in late 2020 and early 2021, I got the chance to reaffirm my assumptions. Cooperative wines run the gamut from easy and delicious to complex and serious. All of the wines tasted were well made with some I’d be proud to show to the most critical palates.

Here are some of my favorites from samples sent to me by Vinchio Vaglio Serra (Piedmont, Italy), Cantina Tramin (Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy)., Pico Wines (Azores, Portugal), and Vignerons Catalans (Languedoc-Roussillon, France).

Wine Recommendations:

• Vinchio Vaglio Serra, Barbaresco 2016

The Vinchio Vaglio Serra Barbaresco offers tremendous value. There are less than 6,000 bottles made from this cooperative. This is a very savory, denser Barbaresco. Notes of cherry, leather, fall leaves, mocha, and tobacco. Medium-bodied on the palate, the acidity is tamed on this wine. Tannins are grippy and not overly drying (like Nebbiolo can be). Good length. At this price point, you’re getting a developed, delicious Barbaresco. Shows a little more bottle age than the vintage suggests, so drink it up now. Score: 92/100

• Vinchio Vaglio Serra, Barolo 2013

The Vinchio Vaglio Serra, Barolo has some bottle development. Notes of dried rose petals, dried cherry, perfume, tobacco, and mocha. Very complex nose. While the nose makes me think it might be a massive, over-extracted Barolo, the palate is the complete opposite. There is a finesse and prettiness here that only Nebbiolo can give. Tannins are chewy but have softened a bit with bottle age and a dried citrus-peel acidity wraps up the finish. Very nice Barolo that’s in a good place now. A longer finish would push it to higher levels. Score: 91/100

• Vinchio Vaglio Serra, ‘I Tre Vescovi’ Barbera d’Asti Superiore 2018

The Vinchio Vaglio Serra, ‘I Tre Vescovi’ Barbera d’Asti Superiore is aged almost six months in large casks. Notes of cranberry, dried cherry, earth, and a little smokiness from the wood. The palate is much more elegant than the 14% would suggest. Sometimes these Barbera Superiore wines can get much too sappy or heavy. Bright fruit with some structure suggests this could develop even further in the cellar. Score: 89/100

• Vinchio Vaglio Serra, ‘La Leggenda’ Barbera d’Asti 2019

The Vinchio Vaglio Serra, ‘La Leggenda’ is a fun and easy-going Barbera. It’s straightforward with notes of cherry, sour cherry, cranberry, and a touch of olive. Nothing complex here, just fruit and fun. There’s a touch of earthiness and complexity here for a wine that didn’t see wood. The red fruits fill the palate and there’s just a faint hint of tannins. Don’t dismiss this wine by the score, this is a fabulous, low-cost bistro red that I’d be happy to sip on anyday. Score: 87/100

• Cantina Tramin, ‘Moriz’ Pinot Bianco 2020

The Cantina Tramin, ‘Moriz’ Pinot Bianco is a level above their standard Pinot Bianco. It has notes of melon, cantaloupe, white peach, and mineral notes. It’s a delicious and easy-going white wine. There is a nice interplay between the fruit and lemony acidity. A crowd-pleaser with enough complexity to keep seasoned palates happy and casual palates quenched. I’m almost never disappointed with Pinot Bianco from Alto Adige and this is no different. This is the type of white that I love to drink on a daily basis. Score: 90/100

• Cantina Tramin, Stoan 2019

The Cantina Tramin, Stoan is one of the winery’s high-end offerings. It’s a blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Gewürtztraminer, and Pinot Bianco aged in large casks. A very unique white wine, there are notes of guava, kiwi, yellow flower, and chestnut. It smells like it would be full-bodied but the acidity here keeps the wine medium-bodied. The wood integration is flawless here, it doesn’t impart flavor but gives it body. The wine is good with length and structure but the flavors could be odd here, I do get some grassiness from the Sauvignon and the pungent floral notes from the Gewürtz along with the body of Chardonnay. It reminds me of a famous white wine called ‘Manna’ from Franz Haas. Score: 91/100

*Find Cantina Tramin bottles at Wine.com.

• Pico Wines, ‘Terroir Vulcânico’ Arinto dos Açores 2019

The Pico Wines, ‘Terroir Vulcânico’ Arinto dos Açores is a barrel-fermented Arinto that is aged for six months. Gorgeous nose of lemon, lavender, white flower, pineapple, and seawater. The oak integration here is outstanding. The wine has Riesling-like electricity on the palate. There’s a tension that stretches out the seriously salty finish. Brilliant white wine. Score: 93/100

• Pico Wines, ‘Terroir Vulcânico’ Verdelho 2018

The Pico Wines, ‘Terroir Vulcânico’ Verdelho is a varietal wine with 20% of the cuvée was barrel-fermented. Explosive nose of flint, lemon, smoke, and white flower. This wine is all about weight and rich texture. The fruit is neutral, mostly sticking to lemons. The salinity here is again intense. This would be great with oysters, very Chablis-esque. Score: 91/100

• Pico Wines, ‘Terroir Vulcânico’ Terras de Lava Reserva 2017

The Pico Wines, ‘Terroir Vulcânico’ Terras de Lava Reserva is a volcanic blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc aged for 14 months in oak. The capsicum and smoke jump out of the glass. They are accompanied by intense tobacco notes and subtle black cherry flavors. Lighter in color for these two grapes. On the palate, the Cabernet Franc seems to dominate (which to me is a good thing). It’s a savory, leafy, and mineral-driven red with some slowly building tannins. Those looking for fruit look elsewhere. Those looking for leafy and earthy notes, feel right at home. Score: 90/100

• Pico Wines, ‘Terroir Vulcânico’ Terrantez do Pico 2019

The Pico Wines, ‘Terroir Vulcânico’ Terrantez do Pico is actually made from the grape Malvasia Fina. This wine is barrel-fermented and aged in old oak for six months. Gorgeous nose with intense complexity. It has flavors of lemon, slate, white peach, sea salt, flint, and apple blossom. Incredibly complex. The palate has richness and finesse that is very Chablis-esque. The long finish is like eating a salted lemon (before you do a shot of Tequila). Acid freaks will be right at home with this gorgeous effort. Score: 94+/100

• Vignerons Catalans, Grenache ‘l’Art et le Vin’ 2020

The Vignerons Catalans, Grenache ‘l’Art et le Vin’ is a special edition Grenache aged in vat before being bottled. Fresh red with notes of strawberry, smoked meat, rose petal, and pepper. For an inexpensive red, this is fantastic. There’s plenty of fruit with a meatiness and a peppery edge. It’s listed at 15.5% ABV but acts more like a medium-bodied red. This is friendly Mediterranean red that’s ready to drink right away. Score: 90/100

• Vignerons Catalans, Lesquerde Racine 2018

The Vignerons Catalans, Lesquerde Racine is a Côtes du Roussillon Villages and a blend of Syrah, Carignan, and Grenache. Notes of blackberry, cherry, meat, and a touch of white pepper. It smells like a Southern French red in an easy-going style. Smooth on the entry and easy to drink. The tannins are rounded out well. Drink this with some bbq meats. Score: 88/100

• Vignerons Catalans, Saveurs d’Austrefois Gris 2020

The Vignerons Catalans, Saveurs d’Austrefois Gris is 100% Grenache Gris. There are subtle notes of strawberry, watermelon, parched earth, and tangerine peel. It’s a crisp and refreshing rosé with plenty of acidity to cut through the palate. Simple, fun, and unfussy. Highly recommended for a hot Summer day. Score: 89/100

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

Do you like our content?

If you like our articles and videos, we’d love for you to be a part of our community on Patreon. The support from Patreon helps keep the content coming and you access to behind-the-scenes content. It also gives us the chance to get to know you better. Check out the Exotic Wine Travel Patreon page by clicking the photo below.

Pico Wines, Vinchio Vaglio Serra, Cantina Tramin, Vignerons Catalans provided tasting samples. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

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For better or worse, 2020 is a year all of us will ever forget. This last year saw the fear of one singular thing affect the entire world. My life was deeply altered, like countless others around the world. That’s not to say everything was terrible, I have a lot of things to be thankful for.

Reliving 2020 isn’t something that most of us want to do but there were some highlights for me. Here’s the 2020 Rewind for Exotic Wine Travel.

Licking Our Wounds: Discover Hungarian Wine

We closed 2019 with an epic failure.

For years, we’ve had the idea of creating a guide book for Hungarian wines in the same spirit as our past books. The previous books we wrote took significant investment, so I opted to go with Kickstarter. After months of research, the Discover Hungarian Wine Kickstarter launched in November 2019.

Unfortunately, I made the wrong choice to set a high bar on Kickstarter and our goal wasn’t reached – meaning we got zero capital from it. Despite the setback, I still had my heart set on relaunching a Kickstarter in 2020. It’s simple, I love Hungarian wines and believe in them.

The first wine shows I attended in 2020 included WineOS in Osjek (Croatia) and Borjour Magnum in Budapest (Hungary). The former included a vertical tasting of one of Hungary’s most respected winemakers and the latter is the largest indoor tasting in Hungary. After discovering new and exciting wines at Borjour Magnum, I felt optimistic about relaunching our Kickstarter in the Spring of 2020. Unfortunately, 2020 had different plans in store for me.

Millésima Blog Awards 2020

A few weeks after the show, I was selected as a finalist in the Millésima Blog Awards 2020. It was my fourth year applying for the competition. I was chosen as a finalist in 2019 but fell short of winning. The story of this year’s edition was different, I was selected as the winner of the Public’s Choice Award for my article “German Pinot Noir: Is It Worth The Hype?“

The grand prize is a week-long trip to Bordeaux. Because of the situation this year, the trip was canceled and still hasn’t been rescheduled. My elation ultimately ended in disappointment.

Back to Sardinia

My last trip before the world went crazy was Sardinia, Italy. Over the years, I’ve been to the island several times per year and have really fallen in love with it. This trip was to judge in my second International Vermentino Competition. The days were filled with plenty of wine and even more delicious food.

 

After the competition, the organizers arranged two short trips to the western part of the island to explore the unique wines known and Vernaccia di Oristano and Malvasia di Bosa. These are two of Italy’s smallest DOCs and are wines that are aged under a thin film of yeast known as the floor. They’re not fruity, they are savory and nutty which confuses most wine drinkers. If you’re looking for a new experience, try one of these wines.

 

COVID & The Zagreb Earthquake

I returned to Zagreb, Croatia for the annual Vinart Grand Tasting. It’s the most prestigious tasting in Croatia. The show featured several amazing masterclasses, including a vertical tasting of Croatian wine icons. We did some PR for the event, helping to bring foreign journalists to the show. After the press trip through some of Croatia’s wine regions, the world went into lockdown over COVID19.

Our travel plans came to a grinding halt and we found ourselves ‘stuck’ in Croatia.

On March 22, just a few weeks after the national lockdown, we were woken at about 6:30 in the morning. The horizon seemed distorted as I looked out the window. Running out to the balcony, I saw dust rising from downtown Zagreb, I thought that a bomb went off.

It was the biggest earthquake Zagreb experienced in over 140 years. Thankful there were few casualties and the structural damage to our rented apartment was minimal. I put together a quick YouTube video of our reactions after the earthquake and it quickly became the most viewed video of the year on the Exotic Wine Travel channel.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Our friend Michel Blanc is the director of the Fédération des Syndicats de Producteurs de Châteauneuf-du-Pape. He brought us to the region in 2019 and this year, arranged for multiple producers to send us their latest vintages for several articles on our site. We spent several months during the Croatian national lockdown, tasting through the latest vintages and writing them up.

You can click the links below to see the articles:

• Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Best Buys

• White Châteauneuf-du-Pape

• Finding Value in the Southern Rhône

I Want To Break Free

Travel restrictions in Croatia started to loosen in the Spring. After being stuck in a small Zagreb apartment for over three months, it was time to get some much-needed fresh air. I arranged a stay in Istria, at the fabulous Villa Famiglia. Our friend Vedran of ChinChin joined us for the month.

It was a hedonistic month of wine and food (especially fresh seafood). Our social media postings made quite a stir. We received constant requests from our friends to visit, both local and abroad. Friends from Zagreb, Switzerland, and even Greece joined us at some point during that month. I put on a few extra kilograms that I’m still trying to take off.

We took the opportunity to revive our Cracking Croatian Wine series on YouTube. During the month-long stay at the Villa Lavanda, we shot our fifth episode about Istria, Croatia. You can relive that entire month with us in the video above.

Book a stay at the luxurious Villa Famiglia HERE.

The Land of Diversity?

After the month in Istria, we returned to Zagreb for a laid back summer. I spent most of the summer tasting and writing up articles, especially a big report on wines from The Spanish Palate. In between tasting and typing, we both took the opportunity to take part in our third video with the Zagreb tourist board.

I found it funny that the casting company made an effort to hire people of different ethnicities. In today’s world, it’s more and more important to be inclusive and show diversity. However, Croatia is not the most diverse country in the world, so seeing Charine, myself, and a few other people of color in the video gave me a good laugh.

Beachside Bumming

Sometimes you need a helping hand.

Out of the blue, Mirena Bagur of Croatian Premium Wine reached out to us. We had met in person but only briefly. Without reservation, she offered her holiday home in Gradac, Croatia. During a time where I was floundering a bit, this was a huge respite.

We took the time to produce our 15th episode of Cracking Croatian Wine. This edition focused on the seaside region of Komarna. It’s Croatia’s newest appellation and is fully certified organic. The wineries are already crafting good wines and have the potential to push the boundaries of Plavac Mali and Pošip. Our video, Cracking Croatian Wine: Komarna became the most viewed video in our series and the second most viewed video on our channel overall.

The real highlight of the month was staying at the Villa Lavanda. Its patio faces the sea, which is only 10 meters (30 feet) away. Gradac is located on the Makarska Riviera and there are towering mountains behind the villa. The only comparable beachside location I’ve been to is Krabi, Thailand.

 

I treasured every morning coffee, every dip in the sea, and every sunset. It’s a place with incredible energy and is very soul-soothing. I hope to bring my entire family there in the future to stay.

Book a beach holiday at the Villa Lavanda HERE.

 

Welcome to Patreon

As the Autumn rolled in, we headed back to Zagreb and I started our Patreon page. Patreon is a crowd-sourcing site based on the concept of Patronage. It’s simple, artists create with the financial help of dedicated fans.

My goal was to create a community of wine lovers who drink adventurously. Through the support of our patrons, I can continue to produce these articles and videos on our YouTube channel. The community is small now but I aim to ramp it up in 2021. Check out the Exotic Wine Travel Patreon page by clicking the photo below.

Back to the Beach

Mirena was kind enough to let us come back and stay at the Villa Lavanda in the late Fall to early Winter. Her generosity deeply touched me. Gradac is a beachside, holiday town and during Summer the beach was full of buzz and noise from children playing in the water. During this period, the town was empty and we heard nothing but the waves every night. Soaking up the seaside air every night is an experience I’ll take with me for the rest of my life.

In total, I spent three and a half months at the Villa Lavanda. It’s the longest I’ve spent at a single residence over the last six years. To help repay Mirena’s kindness, I did a few chores around the house. It gave me great pleasure to do simple things like trimming the hedges and sealing the shutters for the winter.

There aren’t enough words to express my gratitude to Mirena Bagur!

 Book a beach holiday at the Villa Lavanda HERE.

Coravin: Our New Partner

During this time, we also became partners with Coravin. A wine access device that we love and have used for years. If you’re not familiar, check out the video below. You can use our discount code CCROF4DGN5 for 10% off all Coravin systems and accessories (like refill capsules). It doesn’t cost you anything extra, you get a discount, and it helps support our work.

Slovenian Wine Aplenty

I’ve am a huge fan of Slovenian wine and try to visit the country every year. This country may have the highest wine quality among the Ex-Yugoslavian countries. I wasn’t able to visit this year. Instead, I’ll be working on several articles about the best Slovenian wines I tasted in 2020.

The article was originally slated to be a medium-sized article but the response from producers was incredible. I had the chance to tastes the latest vintages and even make a few new discoveries. Stay tuned to our site for three upcoming articles on Slovenian wines. The first should be released in early 2021.

Looking Towards 2021

For me, last year wasn’t all fire and brimstone. There were a few bright spots, including the Exotic Wine YouTube channel, which had its best year. Five years into the channel, it’s still relatively small compared to bigger YouTubers out there.

I’ve posted videos every week for five years and there are some down periods where I think it’s pointless and silly. There have been times where I thought about throwing in the towel. Every time I think about giving up, something pushes me to continue. YouTube sent this summary a few weeks ago and it just boggles my mind that people took nearly 350,000 minutes out of their day to watch – it’s incredibly humbling.

This year, I will also become the main voice of Exotic Wine Travel. You will see reports and articles on this page but most of my focus will shift to YouTube. Please consider subscribing and I wish you and your family a safe and healthy holiday season. See you soon and let’s raise a glass for a better 2021!

Another Zagreb Earthquake(s)

*Update Tuesday, 29 December 2020

Just a few days after I originally posted this, I was woken on Monday, 28 December at 6:30 am. There was a second earthquake at the same time as the one back in March. This Zagreb Earthquake measured at 5.2 on the Richter scale and didn’t create much damage.

One day later, on 29 December a 6.3 magnitude earthquake rocked Zagreb. Originating in Sisak, around 50 kilometers away, there was extensive damage. I am fine, the building was shaking which was scary but no structural damage to my apartment. Let’s hope that other in Zagreb and Sisak were as lucky. Let’s move on to 2021!

You Might Also Enjoy:

2019 Rewine: Best Wine Memories 2019

2018 Rewind (video): Traveling the World for Food and Wine 2018 Rewind.

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If you’re looking to savor the exquisite flavor of Croatian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With an abundance of options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

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Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post 2020 Rewind appeared first on Wine Travel.

Full-bodied reds with gobs of sweet fruit and tannins pair perfectly with big meat dishes. If this is what you crave, the reds of Châteauneuf-du-Pape rarely disappoint. These wines are blends of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre (there are 15 additional grapes which are also permitted in the blend). Red Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines are usually rich and hedonistic.

The reds of Châteauneuf-du-Pape are where I cut my teeth on fine French wines. What’s the bottle that did it for me? It’s the classic Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Clos des Papes (Paul Avril). The rich palate and perfect blend of fruit, meat, and leather notes held on to me and since then, I’ve never looked back (Avril was one of the key people responsible for creating the appellation and his wine still remains a collectors favorite today).

Today there are many collectible Châteauneuf-du-Papes that easily reach several hundred dollars a bottle. Luckily, you don’t need to spend that much money to drink world-class wine in this appellation. There are hundreds of producers that create great Châteauneuf-du-Pape at reasonable price points.

This isn’t an article about Rayas, Beaucastel, Clos des Papes, or Henri Bonneau. Those wines are excellent with prices that can command several hundred dollars a bottle. This is an article about bottles of Châteauneuf-du-Pape that reach greatness without breaking the bank. All of these wines (with the exception of one) can be found for 60 USD and under per bottle.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Recent Vintages

Consumers have a lot of choices thanks to the latest vintages of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The region has been blessed with four excellent vintages in a row. The 2018s are starting to hit the market now but there are plenty of 2015s, 2016s, and 2017s still available. After tasting extensively tasting through the vintages, here are my impressions.

2015 – Regarded as an exceptional vintage. Along with 2016, these two vintages rank among the greatest vintages in the region. These wines tend to be darker in color with more concentrated and dark fruit flavors. Tannins are tough in these wines and they are just starting to really unfurl now.

2016 – My favorite of these four vintages. The wines tend to be Grenache dominant and lighter in color. The fruit is in more of the red fruit spectrum with vibrant acidity (not a common theme in Châteauneuf-du-Pape). These wines are a joy to drink now and should age beautifully. Alcohol levels in these wines are slightly lower than the other three vintages.

2017 – Very similar to the 2015s. These wines are darker in color with tough tannins. They might not be as long-lived as the 2015s but time will be the ultimate test.

2018 – Another vintage where dark fruit and color dominate. These wines are just starting to reach the market and are like 2017 with softer tannins. They should drink beautifully the minute you take them home.

Wine Recommendations:

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

• Domaine Giraud, ‘Grenaches du Pierre’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2018

The Domaine Giraud, ‘Grenaches du Pierre’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape is pure Grenache from 100-year-old vines, only raised in concrete. Intense notes of dried strawberry, meat, black pepper, garrigue, and a touch of wax. Intense notes of fruit on the mid-palate. Complete wine from start to finish. Extra sweet and fine-grained tannins. The high alcohol might bother some but nonetheless, it’s an exciting wine. Score: 94/100

• Cellier des Princes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2018

Cellier des Princes is a cooperative. This is mostly Grenache with just a touch of Syrah and Mourvèdre aged in concrete. Notes of stewed strawberry, cherry, peppered meat, and rose petal. Super silky mouthfeel with some bitter tannins. Plenty of pleasure and complexity. It might not be a long-lived wine, but it’s a ton of fun to drink now. Medium-bodied, balanced CDP. For a wine that can be found around the world around 25 USD, this represents a screaming value. Score: 91/100 – BEST BUY

• Domaine du Calcernier, ’La Fortune du Pot’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016

Domaine du Calcernier is a tiny, garage winery. Their ‘La Fortune du Pot’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape is made of Grenache and Mourvèdre from the Lieu-dit (vineyard area) of La Crau. Notes of mahogany, thyme, stewed strawberry, leather, and pepper – very complex. A big, rich red with plenty of refinement. There’s enough fruit and structure to last in the bottle. This can be drunk now but it really needs more time in the bottle to spread its wings. Handles the 16% ABV well and reminds me of a wine from well-regarded producer Clos des Papes. Score: 94/100

*We also highly recommend the Domaine du Calcernier, ‘Les Notes d’Aline’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017. It’s a unique blend of Grenache and Cinsault.

• Domaine des Chanssaud, ‘Chanssaud d’Antan’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2015

The Domaine des Chanssaud, ‘Chanssaud d’Antan’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a reserve wine and made of 90% Grenache with the rest Syrah and Mourvèdre. The grapes are organically certified and come from old vines. The Mediterranean brush and brown herbs come out first and are accompanied by strawberry, cherry cola, and chocolate notes. The incense and garrigue notes are what stand out the most, not the fruit. If drinking young, this wine needs a lot of time to air before serving. The nose is gorgeous, I just want a little more from the palate. Score: 90/100

• Domaine Pegau, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Lawrence 2013

The ‘Cuvée Lawrence’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape by Domaine Pegau is made in the same way as their standard ‘Cuvée Réservée’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape. the only difference is that the ‘Cuvée Lawrence’ is kept in the barrel longer and released with bottle age. It’s the most expensive wine in this article but does offer value because it gives you the opportunity to taste mature Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

This is made of Grenache with a slew of other permitted varieties. My bottle is a little corked but there is enough here to feel. Notes of leather, mocha, cherry, strawberry. Full-bodied, yet elegant. There’s a good balance between savory and fruit notes. Intense minerality with fine tannins. Long, leathery finish. Score: 94/100

*The Domaine Pegau, ‘Cuvée Réservée’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017 is also highly recommended.

• Domaine de Ferrand, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016

Domaine de Ferrand is a tiny, certified organic producer. Their Châteauneuf-du-Pape is mostly Grenache (85%) with Mourvèdre, Bourbolenc, Syrah, and Cinsault that sees no wood. This again smells like a Red Burgundy. The leather, earthy, and soil notes come to the forefront. Fruit notes include strawberry, red raspberry, and licorice. Refined on the palate with endless depth. Alcohol is under control, long finish. Tannins are tough and chewy. Score: 94/100

• Domaine de Ferrand, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017

This is an absolute STEAL in the world of fine wine. The Domaine de Ferrand, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017 is mostly Grenache (85%) with Mourvèdre, Bourbolenc, Syrah, and Cinsault that sees no wood. Notes of strawberry, spiced dried plum, leather, and white pepper. This baby acts more like a Red Burgundy. It’s constantly changing in the glass and has many layers of flavor. Many people would never pinpoint this as a Mediterranean red. The alcohol is in check and it really acts like a cooler climate wine. No hard edges with chewy tannins with a long finish. Score: 94+/100 – BEST BUY

• Domaine du Grand Tinel, ‘Alexis Establet’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016

The Domaine du Grand Tinel, ‘Alexis Establet’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape is 100% Grenache from old vines. What a stellar wine. It’s like a blend of the Northern Rhône and Southern Rhône. Intense notes of dried strawberry, bacon fat, herbs, meat, and pepper. Full-bodied, this has generous amounts of fruit on the palate. The alcohol is high but integrated well. Fine-grained tannins and a spicy finish. Super complex, this is outstanding and also steal in the world of fine wine. Score: 95/100 – BEST BUY

• Domaine des Pères de l’Eglise, ‘Le Calice de Saint Pierre’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2018

The Domaine des Pères de l’Eglise, ‘Le Calice de Saint Pierre’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape is made mostly of Grenache with a touch of Mourvèdre and Syrah. Notes of cherry, beef jerky, dried strawberry, mocha, and pepper. This is a modern, clean Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It’s a full-bodied with generous fruit. This is surprisingly approachable now. Once it gains complexity with bottle age, this could be brilliant. Very well done oak management. Score: 90+/100

• Domaine des Pères de l’Eglise, ‘L’Heritage de Pollus’ Châteaeuneuf-du-Pape 2017

The ‘L’Heritage de Pollus’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape is 100% Grenache aged in demi-muids (600L casks) for 15 months. This is a big, ripe wine. Notes of stewed strawberry, raspberry, rare steak, and mocha. This is a style of wine that reminds of me some Napa Cabs or big Shiraz from Barossa. Fine tannins and the density to age well. Put this in your cellar for another 5-7 years so the baby fat can fall off. It’s a very good wine but doesn’t taste like a typical Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Score: 92/100

• Domaine La Fagotière, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017

The Domaine La Fagotière, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is half Grenache with Mourvèdre and Syrah. It’s tight on the nose at first and needs air to show its best. Violets jump out of the glass here along with cherry, strawberry, meat, and mocha. Very elegant palate with supple tannins. The acidity comes out here along with a streaky mineral note on the finish. This is a delicious, straightforward Châteauneuf-du-Pape that is sure to be a crowd-pleaser with the stuffing to age well. It’s certified organic and can be found at the lower end of the price spectrum for red Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines. Score: 92/100 -BEST BUY

• Domaine Galevan, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016

The Domaine Galevan, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is Grenache with a touch of Mourvèdre. There’s a note of soy sauce and leather here with the stewed strawberry, cherry, and plum notes. There’s a rustic, meaty quality to this wine which I enjoy. The fruit is really ripe on this full-bodied wine with supple tannins. More of a traditional style of wine. Score: 90+/100

• Domaine Bosquet des Papes, ’A la gloire de mon Grand-Père’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017

Bosquet des Papes is a classic producer that brings excellent quality and their wines age well. The ‘A la gloire de mon Grand-Père’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape is 98% Grenache with a touch of Cinsault and Clairette. Clean and focused flavors of strawberry, sour cherry, sun-baked soil, and white pepper notes. Traditional yet clean Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Full-bodied and plenty of fruit. The tannins are pretty chewy and astringent now but this should do well with some medium-term aging. Score: 93/100

• Domaine Bois de Boursan, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017

Bois de Boursan makes classic, old-school Châteauneuf-du-Pape out of a tiny cellar. This is mostly Grenache with Syrah, Mourvèdre, and 5% other permitted grapes. Incredibly complex with notes of sour cherry, white pepper, game, leather, and violets. This is an elegant wine, not a big bruiser, this is a wine with plenty of layers, firm tannins, and a long finish. These wines age gracefully and this should be no exception. Score: 95/100 – BEST BUY

• Domaine Les Cailloux, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2016

The Domaine Les Cailloux (Andrè Brunel), Châteauneuf-du-Pape is Grenache with Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Cinsault aged in mostly concrete. Notes of strawberry, beef jerky, soil, plum, and a boatload of pepper. Full-bodied but not overly bruising. Everything about this wine is in harmony. It’s a fantastic example of Châteauneuf-du-Pape with a super spicy finish. This is what I want Châteauneuf-du-Pape to taste like! Great wine from a legendary producer. Score: 95/100 – BEST BUY

• Domaine Les Cailloux, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017

The 2017 from Domaine Les Cailloux is made from Grenache with Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Cinsault aged in mostly concrete. This is darker and denser than the 2016. Notes of smoked meat, plum, cherry, leather, and black licorice. This is a wine that has a great interplay between fruit and earth. Very complex even though it is so young. Powerful tannins on the backend suggests this should be great in the cellar. Score: 92+/100

• Château de la Gardine, ’Peur Bleue’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2018

The Château de la Gardine, ‘Peur Bleue’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape is equal parts Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre aged in stainless steel and made with no sulfites added. This wine has more pure fruit and incense notes than the standard Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Notes of blue fruit, black cherry, licorice, stem, and incense flavors. This is clean without flavors of oak. There are no brett or leather notes here. Chewy tannins and a good finish. This needs a lot of time to breathe to show its true colors. Score: 92+/100

*This wine is bottled with a little CO2 for protection, so make sure to decant and shake out the small bubbles.

• Domain Chante Cigale, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017

The Domaine Chate Cigale, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017 represents a new direction for the winery and one we mightily applaud. It is Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre with a hint of Cinsault aged in stainless steel and concrete. Dark in color with a meaty, gamey nose that pops out of the glass. Notes black raspberry, red plum, pepper, and sage also emerge. This is round with rich, mouth-coating fruit. It’s ripe but not stewed. The tannins and sneakily firm. Beautiful wine, I really like this fruity but non-oaky style of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Score: 93/100

• La Bastide Saint Dominique, ’Secrets de Pignan’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017 

The La Bastide Saint Dominique, ‘Secrets de Pignan’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape is 100% Grenache. Big, ripe, and structured but don’t dismiss it as a jam bomb, there’s a lot going on here. Plenty of stewed strawberry, stewed beef, pepper, and smoke. This has real power in the mid-palate. Tough tannins. Put this aside for several years to allow tertiary notes to form. Score: 94/100

• La Bastide Saint Dominique,‘Les Hespérides’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017

The La Bastide Saint Dominique, ‘Les Hespérides’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a 50/50 blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre. I thought the high proportion of Mourvèdre would make this wine too powerful but that’s not the case. Full-bodied and rich with plenty of dark cherry, ripe strawberry, stewed meats, mocha, and pepper. It’s round on the palate and the tannins have a ripe, chewy character to them, they aren’t overly drying. A big boy Châteauneuf-du-Pape that needs air if you open it young. Score: 92+/100

• Domaine Mas Saint Louis, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2015

Domaine Mas Saint Louis produces old-school Châteauneuf-du-Pape and has older vintages available for purchase. This is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre with other permitted grape varieties. Showing some development now with sweet cherry, dried strawberry, crushed rock, tomato leaf, and pepper. This is full-bodied and round, it’s got the perfect amount of fruit, development, and tannin structure at this point. Long finish. Score: 93/100

• Domaine Mas Saint Louis, ’Grand Réserve’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2017

The Domaine Mas Saint Louis, ‘Grand Réserve’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the top wine of the estate. It’s a blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre. This is darker and denser than the other two Châteauneuf-du-Pape bottlings from this estate. Full-bodied and ripe with darker fruit notes of cherry, stewed strawberry along with meat, leather, and pepper notes. It’s massive and round on the palate with fierce tannins. This wine has a future in the cellar. Score: 92/100

• Château Sixtine, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2018

The Châteaue Sixtine, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre aged in large oak casks. This is big and intense. There are notes of blue fruit, raspberry, dried strawberry, pepper meat, and garrigue. This is a full-bodied monster. There are tons of sweet fruit and pepper on the palate. It finishes with big tannins but they have a wonderful ripeness and savoriness to them. Score: 93/100

• Château Mont Thabor, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

This beauty from Château Mont Thabor is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault made with whole clusters and aged in old barrels for a year. Very pretty nose with violets, cassis, black cherry, and smoked meat. This almost smells more like a pure Syrah than a Châteauneuf-du-Pape red.  It’s intense and mouth-filling. The fruit is intense upfront but the wine has a savory quality to it. Tough tannins and high acidity. This is one of the rare CdP rouges that I’d love to see aged for 10+ years. Score: 93/100 – BEST BUY

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Thanks to the Fédéracion des Producteurs de Châteaneuf-du-Pape and the wineries for arranging samples to be sent. The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

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With these times of uncertainty, who does like a good deal?

We still want to drink wine but want to get bang for our buck. Thankfully, it’s pretty easy to find value wine in the Southern Rhône. Whether it’s white, rosé, or red, the Southern Rhône has you covered.

The reds tend to be full-bodied with plenty of red fruit and meat flavors and are based on Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre (although you’ll find other cool grapes like Carignan, Cinsault, and others). The white wines of the Southern Rhône are full-bodied, oily whites that have unique flavors of sun-baked rocks, white peach, and lime. They are made from grapes like Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier, Picpoul, Ugni Blanc, and others. Rosé wines are made from the same grapes as reds in the Southern Rhône.

Cheerful and Value For Money

The wines of the Southern Rhône are delicious and can be found at a variety of price points. The quality is highly dependent on price. There are ‘porch pounder’ Côtes du Rhône available for as low as 2 USD while the better examples go from 10-25 USD. I believe there are great buys in the 13-20 USD range.

Côtes du Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages, & Crus

Côtes du Rhône (Hills of the Rhône) is a wine known the world over. Most people associate it as a cheap and cheerful porch pounder. There are plenty of thin, cheap bottles of Côtes du Rhône on the market but wines made from reputable producers can deliver excellent value for money. We often enjoy Côtes du Rhône (white and red) made by producers of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

Wines labeled as Côtes du Rhône Villages offer a step up in quality. These wines come from 22 different villages. There are stricter requirements for these wines versus standard Côtes du Rhône. They also come from vineyards that show the potential to create distinctive wines.

There are also nine crus in the Southern Rhône, the most famous being Châteauneuf-du-Pape with Gigondas and Vacqueyras also gaining steam in recent years. Tavel is a cru known for deep-colored rosé wine. The lesser-known Crus are worth seeking out because the wines (especially the reds) can deliver phenomenal value for money. These crus are Lirac, Rasteau, Cairanne, Beaumes de Venise, and Vinsobres. We highly recommend tasting wines from these crus.

Wine Recommendations:

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

• Château Pegau, Pink Pegau 2019

The Château Pegau, Pink Pegau 2019 is mostly Cinsault with a touch of Grenache and Carignan. This is a full-bodied, savory rosé. There are notes of leather, strawberry, watermelon, and white pepper. Not just a fruity rosé, there are layers and some depth here. More of a thinking man’s (or woman’s) rosé. Score: 89/100

• Château Sixtine, ‘Cuvée du Vatican’ Réserve de l’Abbé Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2019

The Château Sixtine, ‘Cuvée du Vatican’ Réserve de l’Abbé Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2019 is a blend of Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Clairette. Part of it is aged in oak. The nose is subtle with notes of white flower, passion fruit, apricot, and crushed rocks. Medium-bodied white with just the right amount of acidity, not too much but not too little. Good length with a limey finish. A real value play. Score: 89/100 

• Château Sixtine, ‘Cuvée du Vatican’ Réserve de l’Abbé Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2019

The red ‘Cuvée du Vatican’ Côtes du Rhône is a tangy blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. There are notes of kirsch, sour cherry, smoked meat, and a tangerine peel-like acidity. It’s a medium bodied red with soft tannins that can be served chilled. This is another fine summer BBQ wine. Score: 89/100

• Château Pegau, ‘Setier’ Côtes du Rhône Villages 2016

The Château Pegau, ‘Setier’ Côtes du Rhône Villages 2016 is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre that didn’t see oak. The vineyard is located in Sorgues, which is just outside of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. This is a distinctive ‘Old World’ style of wine. Notes of meat, smoke, black raspberry, dried strawberry, and leather. Full in body with big tannins, this is a touch rustic and full of character. Those that don’t want to splurge on Châteauneuf-du-Pape should seek this out. Score: 90+/100

• Domaine des Pères de l’Eglise, Lirac 2018 

Grenache and Syrah make up the Domaine des Pères de l’Eglise, Lirac 2018. There are notes of meat, caramel, black cherry, strawberry, and pepper. Full-bodied with tons of character. There is a smoky character to this wine. Chewy tannins and bright acid for a Southern Rhône. This could age in the cellar well in the medium term. Score: 90/100

• Domaine Les Cailloux, ‘André Brunel’ Côtes du Rhône 2017

Domaine Les Cailloux is a legendary producer of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and their ‘André Brunel’ Côtes du Rhône isn’t bad either. It’s a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Cinsault. Attractive notes of ripe strawberry, thyme, bbq meat, and tangerine peel. For a basic Côtes du Rhône, this shows impressive body, concentration, and tannins. It’s full in the mouth without being too weighty. There are a small level of tannins here not seen in typical CdRs. This is a great summer BBQ wine and can even be served slightly chilled. Score: 89/100

• Elodie Jaume, ‘À en perdre le Soufre’ Côtes du Rhône 2019

Elodie Jaume is the daughter of Patrick Jaume, who owns Domaine des Chanssaud. The ‘À en perdre le Soufre’ Côte du Rhône 2019 is Elodie’s personal project and is made without the addition of sulfur.

It is a blend of 70/30 Syrah and Grenache aged in concrete and produced without any added sulfites. It’s a dark wine with notes of violets, black cherry, leather, meat, and pepper. For a Côte du Rhône, there’s a lot of concentration here. The Syrah really comes out. The wine is full and fruity with mouth-coating tannins. For this style, this is a delicious red and I’d love to see how this would develop in the cellar with proper storage. Minimal intervention style of wine. Score: 88/100

• Château de la Gardine, Rasteau 2017

The Château de la Gardine, Rasteau 2017 is a real value play. This is a blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah. Notes of strawberry, raspberry, crushed rock, and pepper. The nose is quite elegant so I was surprised on how full in body this is. The red fruits and peppery meats show through here. Ripe tannins and a spicy finish. Score: 90/100

• Château de la Gardine, ‘Même Pas Peur’ Rasteau 2018

The ‘Même Pas Peur’ (Not Even Afraid) Rasteau 2018 is made without the addition of sulfur. It is a blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah bottled without sulfur. You need to shake the CO2 out of this. Notes of strawberry, cherry, meat, and rose petal. It’s a rawer wine than the normal Rasteau but has plenty of sweet fruit. This is dense and should age well. Soft tannins with a floral, peppery finish. Score: 90+/100

• Château Saint Roch, ‘Confidentielle’ Lirac 2017

Château Saint Roch is Château de la Gardine’s property in Lirac. The ‘Confidentielle’ Lirac is an equal blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre aged in used oak. The flavors are clean and bright. Notes of cherry, strawberry, mocha, bbq meat, and pepper. Full-bodied and rich with a gamey mouthfeel. The tannins are firm but easy enough to enjoy this elegant Rhône wine young. Score: 89/100

• La Bastide Saint Dominique, ‘Jules Rochebonne’ Côtes du Rhône 2018

The La Bastide Saint Dominique, ‘Jules Rochebonne’ Côte du Rhône 2018 isn’t your typical Côtes du Rhône. This is mostly Syrah and Grenache. Notes of blackberry, mocha, mocha, and stems. Fruity and full-bodied, it shows impressive concentration for a CdR. Plush mouthfeel. Round and ripe tannins with good length. Score: 90/100

• La Bastide Saint Dominique, Cairanne 2018

The La Bastide Saint Dominique, Cairanne 2018 is an equal blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan, and Mourvèdre. People who like Rhône’s will just get off on this. Notes of meat, cherry, black raspberry, pepper, and clay. Medium-bodied despite the 14.5 ABV. Polished with chewy tannins.l and a quasi-stemmy (in a good way) finish. Score: 89/100

• Château Mont Thabor, Côtes du Rhône 2018

The Château Mont Thabor, Côtes du Rhône is a real overachiever. It’s a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault aged in concrete. For an entry-level red, this is rocking. Notes of leather, strawberry, raspberry, red plum, meat, and pepper. Elegant with several layers on the palate. The fruit is great but the savory qualities take center stage here. Finishes with leathery tannins. This truly acts like a little brother of Mont Thabor’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Score: 90/100

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Thanks to the producers for providing tasting samples. Please note that the opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Finding Value Wine In The Southern Rhône appeared first on Wine Travel.

Mention Châteauneuf-du-Pape to wine geeks and they will usually think of big, rich red blends. But did you know that around 6% of the annual production in this region is white Châteauneuf-du-Pape?

This full-blown Mediterranean region hardly seems like the place for white wines. Despite the climatic challenges, there are world-class whites being made in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The gold standard for white Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the Château de Beaucastel, Roussanne Vielles Vignes (which happens to be one of the most memorable whites I’ve had in recent years). However, there are a number of exciting examples worth checking out.

White Châteauneuf-du-Pape tends to be full-bodied and phenolic. The white grapes used are not overly aromatic, but the warm climate allows plenty of fruit to show through. I find that many examples have an attractive note of sun-baked rocks. Levels of acidity vary, some wines can feel too fat while others have the perfect citrus lift.

Producers use combinations of stainless steel, tank, and barrels to ferment and age the wines. So some wines are made to be crispy and fresh while others have the added structure of oak. Most producers make white Châteauneuf-du-Pape that should be consumed within the first few years of release, although there are long-lived examples being made.

White Châteauneuf-du-Pape: The Grape Varieties

The AOC rules allow any proportion of 18 different grape varieties to be included in red Châteauneuf-du-Pape (expanded from 13 varieties in 2009). Of these 18 grape varieties, 9 of them are white grapes. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC is unique in the fact it allows for white grapes to be blended with red grapes. The appellation also allows any proportion of grapes in the blend.

Most white Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines will be made of one or a combination of four grapes: Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Bourboulenc, and Clairette. The former two give the traditional Rhône flavors while the latter two add acidity to the blend. The five minor white grapes permitted are Clairette Rosé, Grenache Gris, Picardin, Picpoul Blanc, and Picpoul Gris.

White Châteauneuf-du-Pape Prices

Châteauneuf-du-Pape has a number of factors that do not allow for low prices. First is the cost of land, which now goes for 500,000 Euros per hectare and up. Expensive land equals expensive wine. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC also has some of the lowest yield restrictions in Europe. Fewer grapes from expensive land equals a small quantity of wine.

Don’t expect to spend less than 40 USD for a bottle. Overall, standard white Châteauneuf-du-Pape is usually a little more expensive than standard red Châteauneuf-du-Pape. If you are willing to make the splurge, expect a mouthful of unique flavors and intense concentration.

Wine Recommendations:

You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.

• Domaine du Calcernier, Châteaneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2019

The Domaine du Calcernier, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2019 is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Clairette, and Roussanne only in stainless steel. This is crispy for a CdP Blanc. Notes of grass, white peach, stone, lemon, and white pepper. The stone fruit and grass hit upfront with the baked mineral notes of the finish. For a fresh white, it’s full-bodied. With another year in the bottle, this should blossom into a star. Score: 88/100

• Domaine Galevan, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2017

The Domaine Galevan, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2017 is an old-school white wine made from Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, and Roussanne partially barrel fermented and aged. This has a minimal intervention feel to it. The wood comes on strong here at first. Other notes include honey, sage, white peach, sliced apricot. The alcohol sticks out a bit on the nose and the palate. Full-bodied white with an oily texture and a long, stony flavored finish. It’s a nice wine, but the high alcohol detracts the score a bit. Score: 88/100

• Domaine des Pères de l’Eglise, ‘Le Calice de Saint Pierre’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2019

Domaine des Pères de l’Eglise is a wonderful under-the-radar producer. Their ‘Le Calice de Saint Pierre’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2019 is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc, and Roussanne. Half of this cuvée is barrel fermented. The oak integration is fantastic here. It’s a full-bodied white that has more acidity than a typical Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc. Notes of yogurt, white peach, apricot, and flint. Rich mouthfeel with a long, sweet finish. Score: 93/100

• Domaine La Fagotière, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2019

This is another lesser-known producer that punches above its price point. the Domaine La Fagotière, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2019 is a blend of Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Roussanne, and Picpoul. Notes of lime, white peach, guava, and sun-baked stones. Full-bodied and ripe on the palate for a wine that doesn’t see oak. It’s got a zesty lemon feel. The acidity isn’t high here but it’s enough to keep the wine from feeling flat. Salty finish. Score: 91+/100

• Bosquet des Papes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2019

One classic producer that excels every year is Bosquet des Papes. There Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc is a blend of Clairette, Grenache Blanc, and Bourboulenc partially aged in barrel. It’s a typical CdP Blanc style. A full-bodied white wine, typical Southern Rhône in style. Notes of lime, white peach, baked stone, and parched earth. Rich and phenolic, the fruit really sticks to your palate. It’s low in acidity but packed full of flavor. Score: 91/100

• Domaine Les Cailloux, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2018

The Domaine Les Cailloux Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc is one of the first whites that convinced Charine. Their Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc is a blend of Roussanne and Grenache Blanc aged in vat. Attractive notes of lime, sweet peach, mineral, and yogurt. There’s plenty of sweetness in the fruit here. Full in body, although it doesn’t see oak. The finish has a brilliant baked stone and lime note. There’s a lot here to like, just know that it’s not for acid freaks. Layered finish. Score: 92/100

• Domaine des Chanssaud, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2018

The Domaine des Chanssaud Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2018 is a pleasant surprise. This is a blend of Clairette and Roussanne. Wonderful notes of Rhône character with honey, yellow apricot, white peach, and sun-baked stones. There probably isn’t oak here but the wine is full in the mouth and bursting with flavor. Slightly bitter finish. This is in a great place now. Score: 91+/100

• Domaine Chante Cigale, ‘Extrait’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2018

We tasted the Domaine Chante Cigale, ‘Extrait’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2018 out of barrel and cement. It was impressive then and even more from the bottle. This is a 70/30 blend of Grenache Blanc and Roussanne. It is also aged in half cement egg and half in large oak. Wonderful notes of yellow peach, baked stones, yogurt, and sliced apricot. This is full-bodied and creamy on the palate. It’s got the perfect amount of body and texture. Slightly salty with a finish that a gritty texture and a hint of lemon. Score: 94/100

• La Bastide Saint Dominique, ‘La Chapelle’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2019 

La Bastide Saint Dominique is a brand new producer to us and we’re impressed with all of their latest vintages. The ‘La Chapelle’ Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2019 is made from 100% Clairette Rosé, half of the cuvée is barrel fermented. This is a rich and intense with controlled concentration. The wine is full-bodied and intense with sandy tannins. Flavors include white peach, lime, baked stones, and a touch of oak. The wine tastes neutral at first but with time the fruit and complexities emerge. The acidity is low and the wine isn’t sharp. It will be interesting to see what this becomes with another year or two in the bottle. Score: 92/100

• Domaine Mas Saint Louis, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2017

Domaine Mas Saint Louis is a traditional producer from the region. Their Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc is a blend of Roussanne and Grenache Blanc, partially fermented in tank and partially barrel fermented. This is smoky with melon, white peach, lime, and sun-baked stones. Full-bodied and round on the palate, this is undeniably French in style. Powerful and persistent finish, this is in a great place now. Score: 91+/100

• Château Sixtine, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2019

The Chateau Sixtine, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc is 100% Roussanne, part of the cuvée is barrel fermented. It’s a wine that really surprised us. There are notes of white nectarine, lemon, baked stone, and yogurt. The wood integration here is flawless, it’s full-bodied and rich. This has the perfect balance of sweetness, acidity, and barrel. It’s young but so round and delicious. This is drinkable now and a few more years in bottle should do it wonders. Score: 93+/100

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Thanks to the producers of Châteauneuf-du-Pape for providing tasting samples. Please note that the opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post White Châteauneuf-du-Pape: 11 Wines To Try appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Desprat Saint-Verny, Basalte 2017

Located in the center of France is the Parc Regional des Vulcans d’Auvergne. The landscape is dominated by sleeping volcanoes that surround the city of Clermont-Ferrand. Within this national park is the AOC Côtes d’Auvergne. Within that AOC is the largest producer Desprat Saint-Verny.

I met Lea Desprat, a member of the family at GoVolcanic 2019 in Budapest, Hungary. After tasting several examples, I was impressed with the finesse and drinkability of the wines. The little known Côtes d’Auvergne appellation was also an unknown to me, which piqued my interest all the more.

Desprat Saint-Verny produces around 30 labels as their property takes up over half of the 405 hectares that make up the Côtes d’Auvergne AOC. They focus on Chardonnay for the whites and Gamay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah for the reds.

The Desprat Saint-Verny, Basalte is made from 100-year-old vines of Gamay. It is like an imaginary collision of a Beaujolais (France) and an Etna Rosso (Italy). There a smoky undertone on the nose along with cherry, strawberry, and a faint hint of white pepper. It has a silky mouthfeel and there a vibrant acidity that begs for food. For a wine that saw over 12 months in oak, the wood doesn’t show through at all in the flavor, it merely adds structure.

This isn’t a wine for those who want something big and bold. It is a wine for those who appreciate delicate flavors and want acidity in their red wines. The Desprat Saint-Verny, Basalte hits my palate perfectly, it’s the type of wine I want to drink every day, all day.

Score: 90/100 (You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.)

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Please note that the opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

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Volcanic wines are a hot subject these days and GoVolcanic proved to be an explosive tasting.

Bad jokes aside, the first edition of GoVolcanic in Budapest, Hungary proved to be an interesting event. There were great volcanic wines from all over the world including Hungary, Austria, Israel, Spain, Slovakia, Portugal, Italy, France, and the USA. The event was headlined by Master Sommelier John Szabo, who’s credited with being one of the founders of this wine movement thanks to his book Volcanic Wines: Salt, Grit, and Power.

As a first time event, there were a few organizational hiccups but the quality of the wines is what matters to me most. With this in mind, GoVolcanic excelled and exceeded my expectations. On the tasting tables and in the masterclasses all the wines followed the ‘volcanic terroir’ theme.

Go Volcanic Masterclasses and Speed Tastings

The strongest part of the GoVolcanic tasting was the workshops. Both days were filled with masterclasses from both wine professionals and geologists. The main tasting room also featured ‘speed tastings’ modeled after the London Wine Fair, where one professional led stand-up tastings of six wines in thirty minutes.

As someone who loves to taste quickly, these speed tastings were perfect for me. I attended four and all were led by competent professionals who selected excellent volcanic wines. If GoVolcanic comes back for a second edition, I’d love to see more of this setup.

The workshops at GoVolcanic 2019 were lead by both wine professionals and geologists. Both went beyond the normal masterclass and dug deeper into what makes volcanic soil unique for viticulture. The classes also featured hard to find wines such as ‘Hidden Treasures/A Moric Project’ and old vintages from Somló, Hungary.

There was a lot to like about GoVolcanic 2019 and I hope it comes back for a second edition this year. Here are my ten favorite volcanic wines from the show.

Wine Recommendations:

Foreign Wines

• Feudo Cavaliere, Millemetri Etna Rosato 2016 – Etna, Italy

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I tasted the Feudo Cavaliere ‘Millemetri’ Etna Rosato during a speed tasting conducted by Master of Wine Elizabeth Gabay. It’s made from Nerello Mascalese and is full of sour cherry, strawberry, and mineral flavors. It’s a serious rosé, not just fruity, there’s plenty going on here. Gritty texture and a long finish. Score: 91/100

• Pico Wines, Frei Gigante 2018 – Pico, Azores 

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The Frei Gigante is a masterpiece by the Pico Wines cooperative. It’s a blend of Arinto, Verdelho, and Terrantez. Tine wine is high in mineral flavors with notes of smoke, flint, and a faint hint of quince. The palate is smoky and savory in addition to being highly structured with a long finish. This isn’t for someone who wants fruit, it’s for those who like complex, savory white wines. Score: 92/100

• Hidden Treasures/A Moric Project, Breitenbrunn 2017 – Leithaburg, Austria

Roland Velich of Moric winery in Austria has a label called Hidden Treasures. He picks unique wines from Austria and Hungary for this label. This wine is made with Lichtenberge-González, a producer in the Leithaburg DAC in Austria. This Blaufränkisch is a savory red wine with mineral, white pepper, cherry, and a touch of cedar. Firm tannins and high acidity, it feels a lot like Sangiovese. The wine has a long finish and is cellar-worthy. Score: 91/100

• Fattorie Romeo del Castello, ‘Vigo’ Etna Rosso 2013 – Etna

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The Fattorie Romeo del Castello Vigo is everything I want in an Etna Rosso. This is a blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio. It’s robust and smoky red with notes of black cherry, redcurrant, smoke, and tobacco. It’s full and round on that palate at first and then the small tannins hit hard on the back end. Score: 92+/100

Hungarian Wine

• Homonna Attila, ‘Határi’ Tokaji Furmint 2017 – Tokaj

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Homonna Attila is a tiny producer in Tokaj and his Határi Tokaji Furmint is one of his top dry wines. It has notes of sweet peach, white pear, flint, and yogurt flavors. Full-bodied and rich with a touch of residual sugar. This has real texture and structure. The fruit flavors may be a tad muted but you can’t deny the quality here, it’s for people who like German Riesling and Sylvaner. Score: 90/100

• Bajnóczy, ‘Sárkány-Lelke’ Pinot Gris 2017 – Balaton

Nerd alert! The Bajnóczy ‘Sárkány-Lelke’ Pinot Gris’ is for hardcore wine geeks. This is partially macerated and done in a minimal intervention style. The wine is full-bodied and gritty with a smoky flavor along with the dried yellow fruit and a slight almond finish. Score: 90/100

• 2HA, Shiraz 2016 – Balaton

The 2HA (2 hectares) winery is a tiny estate in North Balaton that puts an emphasis on red wines (this is primarily a white wine region) The 2HA Shiraz is more of a Syrah style than a Shiraz. Notes of dark fruit, violets, chocolate, and pepper. It’s juicy with a peppery finish. Complex and extremely well done. Score: 91+/100

• Fekete Pincé, Furmint 2007 – Somló

Fekete Pincé is one of the old guards of Somló and this Furmint 2007 is classic. There are notes of mushroom, campfire, smoke, and dried apricot. It’s full-bodied, oxidative, and highly mineral with a chewy texture and a long finish. Truly complex and unique, this is a thinking wine and a very good one at that. Score: 92/100

• Győrgykovács Imre, Hárslevelú 2010 – Somló

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Another old guard of the tiny volcanic region of Somló. The Győrgykovács Imre Hárslevelú has notes of white flower, honey, flint, smoke, and a faint bit of white pear. This is shiny and highly mineral. It’s full-bodied and fairly neutral. Highly structured with a long finish. This is not for people that want gobs of fruit, but it is a brilliant wine. It’s was my favorite wine of the entire GoVolcanic Summit. Score: 93+/100

• Somlói Apátsági Pince, Juhfark 2017 – Somló

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Somlói Apátsági Pince is another classic producer from Somló while Juhfark is one of the star varieties. This example is a late harvest, dry wine. The flavors include apricot, pear, sweet peach and honey with subtle notes of botrytis. It is full-bodied and minerally, unique and delicious. Gritty texture and a touch of residual sugar to build the body and balance the acidity. Score: 90/100

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GoVolcanic provided complimentary admission. Cover photo is from the GoVolcanic website. Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Ten Volcanic Wines From GoVolcanic appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Domaine Ratron, ‘Clos des Cordeliers’ Saumur-Champigny Prestige 2017

We first bumped into winemaker Marie-Françoise Ratron during a Loire Valley Wines press trip in the Spring of 2019. During a dinner with the producers of Saumur-Champigny, Marie-Françoise’s energy and wine won us over. That evening, she poured us her entry-level red, the ‘Clos des Cordeliers’ Saumur-Champigny Cuvée Tradition 2017, which is fabulous in its own right.

We listened carefully as Marie-Françoise explained that the 2017 vintage was her first solo harvest and wine. Her passion came through in the glass. Our encounter inspired us to explore the Domaine Ratron portfolio in greater depth, especially the other bottlings from the Clos des Cordeliers.

The first mention of the Clos des Cordeliers goes back to 1630. The vineyard changed hands several times throughout the years before being purchased by the Ratron family in 1932. Mr. Sébastien Ratron represented the fourth generation of the family. He passed away unexpectedly in 2017 but Marie-Françoise continues the family legacy.

The Domaine Ratron, ‘Clos des Cordeliers’ Saumur Champigny Prestige 2017 is made from 55-year-old vines. It is a dense, dark, and extracted Cabernet Franc. There are notes of black cherry, blackberry, black olive, and deep earthy notes. The wine is full and silky on the palate. For a wine that didn’t see oak, this is incredibly complex. Chewy tannins guide the long finish.

If you want a rich Cabernet Franc from the Loire, this represents the region well.

Score: 91/100  (You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.)

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

This was a sample provided by Domaine Ratron. Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

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As 2019 closes and 2020 unfolds, it will mark five straight years of traveling around the world. We’ve spent that entire time uncovering unique wines from both far-flung and well-known regions of the wine world.

In 2015 we left our careers to take a sabbatical. I had a large Chiropractic practice and Charine was on the fast track in a multinational company. We were both happy but wanted more in our lives. What started as an around the world tour turned into our next career.

Traveling around the world and writing about wine sounds like a dream to many, but it’s not all champagne and filet mignon. There are many long hours on buses, trains, and airports. Couple that with the stress of constantly finding temporary “homes” on a budget while lugging around everything we own, and it starts to get a little hectic. Add the uncertainty of building something unique and you can see that this isn’t the life for everyone.

We get to travel the world and report on exciting happenings in wine. But for every wine-filled trip and five-course dinner, there are long days of sitting in front of the computer eating a meal of crackers and spread. We’re not independently wealthy, we are two people that have put everything on the line to build something bigger than ourselves.

This last year wasn’t the easiest, we had a lot of personal and professional setbacks including a very public stumble (read about it at the bottom of this article). Still, I don’t regret anything. In chronological order, here are the vinous experiences that made 2019 special.

Exploring tropical viticulture in Thailand

Accompanying the Thai Wine Association for their annual vineyard inspection tour was the first trip of the year. I had the chance to visit in January, one month before the harvest. I have long been skeptical about the ability to create fine wines in the tropics but that all changed with the visit.

The vineyards of Gran Monte were so cool at night that I needed a jacket, while other Thai vineyards look like they lifted right out of Southern France. And the wines? I took one Thai Syrah to a group of sommeliers in Singapore to taste blind, they all thought it was a Côte Rôtie.

Taking a French deep dive in the Loire and Châteauneuf-du-Pape

France is a country that we want to spend more time in. Charine has always been a Francophile at heart, both food and wine. I’ve always leaned towards Italy. Over the last few years, my palate has started changing and drifting towards French wine.

We spent back to back weeks in the Loire and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The trip through the Loire included meeting Nicolas Joly at the legendary Coulee de Serrant AOC. Charine’s favorite moment of the trip was dinner with producers of Saumur-Champigny. My favorite part of the trip was walking barefoot in the frigid Atlantic Ocean, viewing the oyster farms before slurping a few down with some Cru Muscadet.

After the Loire, we made our way to Châteauneuf-du-Pape for the annual tasting, Les Printemps des Châteaneuf-du-Pape. The week included cellar visits, long walks through vineyards and plenty of smelly French cheese. During one evening, the producers hosted a party with magnums of older vintages of CdP, which was fine wine overload. My most memorable white wine of the year came from that week, the Beaucastel Roussanne Vielle Vignes.

Making videos in Salento and at Il Borro

After France, we flew to Puglia, Italy to produce a short video about the wines of Salento. Our friend Stefano Spagnolo of Salento Wine Tour and Salento Wine Shop hosted us for a week. We had the chance to discover Salento deeper while gorging ourselves on the wonderful Pugliese cuisine. You can see our work from that week in the video below.

After Salento, we jumped on a train and headed straight for Tuscany. We had previously met Salvatore Ferragamo in person at James Suckling’s Great Wines of Italy Hong Kong 2018. I was genuinely impressed with the wines of Il Borro and Salvatore invited us to stay at the property.

It was a longtime dream of Charine to stay at Il Borro, so spending three nights at the property was surreal for both of us. It was a luxurious experience that included food, wine, horseback riding, and more. You can see what it’s like to stay at Il Borro in the video below.

Switzerland with friends and special wines

After the crazy month of April, May got even more hectic as we judged at the IWCB in Romania, followed that up with a trip to Bulgaria, and then a leisure trip to Switzerland. We visited a good friend at his family home outside of Zurich.

Our friend has always been generous with us when it comes to food and wine. He’s treated us to countless meals, great bottles, and experiences over the years. All of which we are eternally grateful.

In the cellar of his family’s home, there is a collection of wines passed down from his father. During the course of a week, he opened numerous wines including a 1994 Château Cheval Blanc. Even in an off vintage, the wine was stellar and we polished the bottle off in no time.

A week in Moldova

We were exhausted from two straight months on the road, but we had a big trip planned to the Republic of Moldova. The weeklong trip was a whirlwind tour, with visits to three wineries per day mixed in with long nights of tasting at multiple wine bars scattered throughout Chișinău.

Moldova is one of the poorest countries in the region, which makes it impressive to see the production of quality wine. Prior to the trip, we had tasted several Moldovan wines while judging at the IWCB. We were impressed by those examples but discovered even better wines while touring through the country.

After the trip, Charine published our most viewed article of the year. In addition to that, our YouTube recap of the trip went quasi-viral and reached nearly 7,000 views in less than two days. You can view it below.

Hanging with Andrew Jefford

Andrew Jefford is one of Charine’s favorite wine writers. He also happens to also be one of the most respected in Europe. With all of that in mind, it felt surreal when he asked us to sign his copy of Cracking Croatian Wine.

Our friend and renowned Croatian wine writer Saša Špiranec put together a private press tour and mega tasting of Croatian wine for Andrew and us. Over three and a half days we introduced Andrew to some of the best wines in the country. It was refreshing to see someone with so much wine knowledge and experience be so humble and open. He also had a very positive opinion of Croatian wines.

Four weeks of great wines in Germany

Charine signed up for the pet sitting site Trusted Housesitters. Our first gig was catsitting in the heart of Germany’s wine country. We stayed in a beautiful home in the Rheinhessen just on the border of the Rheingau and Nahe. It was a fabulous location for visiting wineries.

The cat was very low maintenance so we took the time to visit top producers in Ahr, Franken, Mosel, Nahe, Pfalz, Rheingau, Rheinhessen. We visited several producers every day and it was the most educational wine month in my career thus far. We spent time with producers as they walked us through canopy management, vine positioning, and vinification styles. Because of the cooler climate, German’s have to be excellent at all of the above to create the best wine possible and I enjoyed being the benefactor of all their expertise.

After the visits during the day, we spent every evening tasting through samples of fine German Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Noir. Now I absolutely love German wines and hope to explore the country more in-depth. Several of our articles on the trip have been published with more to come under the German Wine tab on our website.

*Travel around the world and live like a local. Stay in someone’s home for free in exchange for pet sitting. You can use our code RAF207209 to get 25% your membership at Trusted Housesitters.

Extreme wines in Valle d’Aosta

While we stayed in Germany, I had two solo, side trips to Italy. The first was to Sardinia and the other to Valle d’Aosta. In Aosta, I judged at the 27th edition of the Mondial des Vins Extrêmes.

Many wine competitions are filled with mundane wines, just hoping to get a medal to stand out on a supermarket shelf. The wines in Mondial des Vins Extrêmes are all from small producers, working in extreme terroirs (slopes, islands, terraces, etc). During one afternoon tasting, my friend exclaimed, “this is the best flight wines I’ve ever had in a competition.”

In the afternoons, I joined all of the judges on different excursions. We visited producers and discovered the local cuisine. The food of Valle d’Aosta is a fine blend of mountain cheese, braised meats, and local pasta, all with an Italian flair. Cooperative wineries produce a lot of the valley’s wine and I couldn’t believe the quality of wines available under 10 Euros.

Four Portuguese wine regions in two and a half weeks

Portuguese wine is having a moment in the sun right now, there are several good reasons for that. The wines are unique, the people are open, and the country is stunning. It feels like a place I could live long term.

I traveled to Portugal for the 2019 Douro Boys Auction and had the intention to judge in a competition in Italy afterward. The competition was canceled at the last minute, which meant I needed to scramble to fill time. After sending out dozens of emails, the next few weeks began to take shape and included whirlwind tours of the Dão, Bairrada, and Alentejo.

The trip gave me a better understanding of Portuguese cuisine, which has more regional differences than I previously thought. The two and a half weeks were also filled with great wines, old friends, and random experiences. My last night was spent in an underground Lisbon club with only senior citizens dancing around while a Dutch woman who relocated to the country complained to me about her love life. Oh, Portugal…

Our Kickstarter that fell short

We’ve been returning to Hungary many times over the last few years with the intention to write a Hungarian wine book. We love the country’s wines and this year, we decided to commit to producing a book. We turned to the crowdsourcing site Kickstarter to fund the project.

It took us several months of pre-preparation, calculations, and taking courses before finally launching the campaign in early November. Admittedly, we jumped the gun too soon and made several mistakes. I had many long nights second-guessing myself but learned a lot in the process. We didn’t successfully reach our goal, but I was overwhelmed by people that backed the project. I was moved to tears on several occasions by old friends and backers thanks to their generosity.

During the month-long campaign, I traveled solo throughout Hungary to attend tastings, visit producers, and get deeper into Hungarian culture. The four weeks strengthened my opinion of Hungarian wines even more. I also connected with several people in the industry who went out of their way to help. That’s we’re not giving up, we feel like we owe the book to all of those who helped us along the way.

We’re relaunching the campaign in March 2020. You can stay up to date with the process and get a copy with a discount by signing up for the Discover Hungarian Wine mailing list.

*Hungary isn’t the easiest country to navigate and we’d be lost without help from the following people. Carolyn & Gábor (Taste Hungary), Dániel (winesofa.eu), Zoltán (Pécsi Borózó), Evá (GoVolcanic & Somló Wine Shop), Zoltán (Művelt Alkoholista), Péter (Vida Péter Winery), Mihály (Könyvbar & Restaurant), András (Takler Winery), Vera (Magyar Turisztikai Ügynökség), Wine a’More Travel, Bortársaság, Borjour, Agnes & Tamás (Hungarianwines.eu), Kriston (VinCE), and everyone who backed our Kickstarter. I can’t thank you all enough.

You might also enjoy:

Our video recap of 2018: Traveling the World for Food and Wine 2018 Rewind.

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Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Best Wine Memories of 2019 appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Château de Beaucastel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc ‘Roussanne Vielles Vignes’ 2017

We spent one week in Châteauneuf-du-Pape for the Les Printemps de Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2018. Our week was filled with the festival, judging a competition, and a few producer visits. The last winery on our agenda was the legendary Château de Beaucastel.

This estate produces some of the most sought after wines in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. It took a little bit of persistence but we finally got an appointment at the estate. The property sits in the northeast corner of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC. The interior is impeccably clean and reminds us of a Portuguese Quinta.

After the short tour, we sat down to taste several vintages of the Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape reds and the whites. Charine is a huge fan of the white grape Roussanne, which is why we were excited taste the Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc (80% Roussanne) and the Châteauneuf-du-Pape ‘Roussanne Vielles Vignes’ (100% Roussanne from old vines). Both wines lived up to their billing. After tasting the latter, Charine has been hellbent on trying to find another top-notch Roussanne but I doubt we will be able to top the Château de Beaucastel ‘Roussanne Vielles Vignes’.

You know the Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc ‘Roussanne Vielles Vignes’ 2017  is the real deal on first smell. The nose is complex and serious. The wine has a deep, golden color. The flavors are bold and explode on the palate, consisting of yellow peach, flint, vanilla, honey. This is a full-bodied white wine with a rich, gritty texture and a long, mineral finish. This classic from Château de Beaucastel is highly structured, masterfully crafted, and is built to last.

This is a wine for connoisseurs who have a cellar, patience, and cash on hand. It’s a white that can stand toe-to-toe with great whites around the world.

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