The stretch of land along the North Adriatic coast is one of the most soulful areas I’ve traveled through. The area includes the Croatian & Slovenian portions of Istria, runs through Italy. Carso is a small strip of land that hugs the sea and surrounds Trieste, Italy. It’s here that you’ll find Benjamin Zidarich of Zidarich winery.

Zidarich

Carso is one of Italy’s smallest regions and is technically part of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. What the Carso lacks in size, it makes up with quality. There are several notable producers here like Edi Kante, Skerk, Skerlj, and Zidarich.

Zidarich works with the local grapes including Malvasia Istriana, Terrano, and their signature variety Vitovska. There are no ‘fresh’ white wines at Zidarich. Their white grapes see time on the skins and are aged in large oak casks. These are amber wines, orange wines if you will, but they aren’t heavy and tannic. They show finesse and bright acidity, which isn’t always the case in this genre.

I’ve been following their wines throughout the years and am always impressed with how Benjamin Zidarich can extract so much flavor out of his grapes while keeping alcohol levels low. The new releases all show zippy acidity, making the wines lighter on the palate and never too drying.

Italy has a number of fabulous amber wine producers but prices can be a little steep for many consumers. These wines from Zidarich are every bit as good, with fair prices to match. If you’re looking to taste something out of the ordinary, you won’t go wrong with these latest vintages.

• Zidarich, Teran 2018

This grape is known as Terrano in Italy. The Zidarich, Teran is aged in large casks for a few years. I taste many examples from Slovenia and Croatia and this one is noticeably lighter in color. It has a brilliant nose of sour cherry, fall leaves, cranberry, and mandarin orange with a touch of earth and rusty nail. Complex nose. The grape is known for its wildness but that’s kept in check here. The acidity is high (but not searing) and the tannins are pretty chewy. Most examples of this grape are too extreme for most palates but this is well done. It’s going to perform better with food but it is a stellar example of the grape. Score: 90/100

• Zidarich, Malvasia 2018

This Zidarich, Malvasia is macerated for a few weeks and aged in large casks for two years. Bright notes of dandelion, apricot, peach, and a touch of flint. It’s a floral orange wine that’s elegant, not big & burly. There’s a touch of wildness here accompanied by ripe, chewy tannins that slowly build on the palate. High alcohol and low acidity can be a problem with this grape, that’s not the case here. It comes in at 12.5% ABV and drinks well. Score: 92/100

• Zidarich, Vitovska 2018

This is the signature wine from Zidarich. The Zidarich, Vitovska is macerated and aged in large casks for about two years. Gorgeous nose of yellow peach, white flower, and crushed limestone. I can almost smell the sea in this wine. It’s a lighter orange wine and has the body of a bigger, classical white. There’s a rush of vibrant acidity that stretches out the finish. The tannins are chewy at first before the acidity washes them away. This is brilliant now and has the gumption to develop and improve in the bottle. Score: 92+/100

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

Zidarich 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.

The post Zidarich: Soulful Italian Wine from the Carso 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.

Fakin, ‘Il Primo’ Teran 2017

“Fakin Good Wines!”

That’s the tagline of Fakin Winery in Istria, Croatia. This slogan always draws snickers from people but it’s more than just a marketing ploy. The wines from Fakin are very good indeed.

Proprietor and winemaker Marko Fakin burst onto the wine scene a few years ago and hasn’t looked back since. Marko produces whites from Malvazija and reds from Teran. The wines have garnered local attention and have taken home several prestigious prizes at the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Since 2015, Marko has produced barrel-aged Malvazija and Teran, named La Prima and Il Primo respectively. We’ve tasted every vintage of both and often found that the La Prima outperformed the Il Primo. To me, the past vintages of Il Primo seemed a little oaky and overly ambitious. That has all changed with the recent vintage of Fakin, ‘Il Primo’ Teran.

*Learn more about Marko and Fakin wines at 4:42 in the video below.

The 2017 vintage was difficult for reds in Istria, which makes the Fakin, ‘Il Primo’ Teran 2017 all the more impressive. It tastes eerily similar to a well made Chianti Classico. The acidity here is under control (difficult with the high acid grape Teran) and balanced by generous fruit and judicious use of oak. There are notes of cherry, balsamico, cedar, and a hint of mocha. Generous fruit on the front with bitter, espresso-like tannins. There’s a tangerine peel-like flavor on the finish thanks to the vibrant acidity.

Score: 91/100

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

The finest selection of

Croatian wines available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Croatian wines?    

If you want to savor the exquisite flavor of Croatian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With many 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!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

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!

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 Fakin, Il Primo Teran 2017 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!

Croatian Wine

Located across the Adriatic Sea from Italy, Croatia has no shortage of excellent wine. We fell in love with the country’s wines for a few reasons, first is the staggering number of indigenous grapes (around 140). Second is that the top Croatian wines can stand toe to toe with the best bottles from around the world.

Thanks to the geography and diversity of grapes grown, Croatia can produce many different wines. The country is broken up into four PGI regions, Istria & Kvarner and Dalmatia have a Mediterranean climate. The Croatian Uplands and Slavonia & The Danube have a continental climate. This allows for a diversity of styles and ensures there are Croatian wines to suit all types of palates.

Croatian wine writer Saša Špiranec put together a masterclass titled “Croatian Wine Icons”. He selected some iconic labels and sourced older vintages. All of the wines were made predominantly of indigenous or regional grapes instead of international varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, etc.

Thanks to the robust tourism industry and a voracious local market, the best Croatian wines are sold out every vintage. This means that most of these wines will be very difficult to track down. All of these wines perform well in every vintage, so picking up the current releases is sure to put a smile on your face.

Here’s how these iconic Croatian wines performed.

Croatian Wine: Flight 1

• Enjingi, Venje Bijelo 1998 – Slavonia & The Danube

This vintage of Enjingi, Venje Bijelo put Croatian wine on the map when it won a Regional Trophy at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2004. It’s a late harvest, barrel-aged blend of Graševina, Traminac, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Gris. There’s a lot of development here with notes of fall leaves, honey, apricot, white pepper, and daffodil. Although it smells of an aged sweet wine it is bone dry with an almondy, Sherry-like finish. Remarkable after 20+ years of aging. Score: 93/100

• Kozlović, Santa Lucia White 2009 – Istria & Kvarner

The Kozlović, Santa Lucia White is one of Croatia’s best white wines every year it’s made. This vintage is good but doesn’t live up to my lofty expectations. There are notes of apricot, green guava, honey, and white flower. Full-bodied with texture and a mineral finish. The wine doesn’t come together as seamless as other editions I’ve had, which pulls the score down a tad. Score: 90/100

• Krajančič, Statut 2011 – Dalmatia

Krajančič is considered the godfather of modern Pošip and his Statut is a barrel-fermented beauty. This is spectacular stuff. The wine is normally very oaky when young but now it has integrated perfectly. There are notes of dried apricot, yellow peach, sage, and melon. It’s rich and full with plenty of sweet fruit on the palate. Salty and long finish. Score: 94/100

• Antunović, Graševina Premium 2013 – Slavonia & The Danube

Another wine that has made waves on the local scene. This vintage of Antunović, Graševina Premium won a Platinum Medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards. It’s a late harvest, dry wine that shows the potential of the grape. Notes of honey, cotton candy, apricot, and baked apple. Full-bodied with a stony finish. Score: 92/100

• Krauthaker, ‘Kuvlakhe’ Graševina 2015 – Slavonia & The Danube

Vlado Krauthaker traveled to Georgia and decided he wanted to make a line of macerated, sulfur-free wines with organically grown grapes. The ‘Kuvlakhe’ series is the result. This is a beauty with an explosive nose of sweet apricot, tangerine, fall leaves, and dried yellow flowers. There are a lot of tannins here but they are soft and accompanied by juicy acidity. Score: 92/100

• Coronica, Gran Teran 2004 – Istria & Kvarner

Coronica is one of the finest producers in Istria and the Gran Teran is his flagship wine. We’ve had several vintages of it but not as old as this one. The nose is great and resembles a fine Chianti Classico. There are notes of sour cherry, wax, tobacco, earth, and rusty nail. It’s full-bodied but the high acidity keeps the mouthfeel lively. Chewy tannins that suggest this can live much longer in the cellar. Score: 92+/100

Croatian Wine: Flight 2

• Benvenuti, ‘Santa Elisabetta’ Teran 2015 – Istria & Kvarner

The ‘Santa Elisabetta’ Teran is a new wine in the Benvenuti portfolio. We tasted this several times in 2019 and it never disappointed. It’s a wine that smells like a dense red from Piemonte (Italy). The bottle at this tasting was a little fruitier than we remember, but the quality was still the same. Notes of cranberry, cherry, cedar, cacao, and tobacco. Full-bodied with chewy tannins, this should last a long time in the cellar. Score: 93/100

• Markus, ‘Franz Ferdinand 101’ Babić 2015 – Dalmatia

The Markus ‘Franz Ferdinand 101’ Babić is the finest example of this indigenous Croatian red grape. Read more about it in this feature article. Score: 93/100

• Miloš, Stagnum 2005 – Dalmatia

Miloš wines are not for those just getting into wine. They age their Stagnum for many years in cask and bottle before release. This iconic Plavac Mali resembles an imaginary blend of Rioja Gran Reserva, Taurasi, and aged Barolo. This wine has notes of tomato leaf, tobacco, cigar, tar, and dried strawberry. It’s a rich, full-bodied red with firm tannins. It’s a divisive wine between Charine and me. I think it’s a brilliant effort. Score: 94+/100

• Zlatan Otok, Plavac Grand Cru 2011 – Dalmatia

Zlatan Otok is another one of Croatia’s old guards and the Plavac Grand Cru is the top wine in the portfolio. This Plavac Mali is a big, meaty, true Mediterranean red. There are notes of violets, game, strawberry, and black pepper. Chewy tannins and a long finish that remind me of a Taurasi (Italy). Score 93/100

• Stina, ‘Remek djelo’ Plavac Mali 2011 – Dalmatia

Stina is one of our favorite producers of Croatian wine and their ‘Remek djelo’ Plavac Mali has only been made in four vintages to date. This is polished, structured, and complex. It has notes of violets, Mediterranean brush, strawberry, pepper, and cedar. This is a massive wine that has finesse at the same time. It finishes long with big tannins. Score: 94/100

• Bura, Dingač 2016 – Dalmatia

The Bura, Dingač is one of Croatia’s cult wines made in tiny quantities. It’s 100% Plavac Mali and has notes of strawberry, bubblegum, meat, rose, thyme, and pepper. It’s a full-bodied wine that is elegant and shows lots of refinement. The tannins are round and grippy and guide the long finish. Score: 92+/100

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

The finest selection of

Croatian wines available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Croatian wines?    

If you want to savor the exquisite flavor of Croatian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With many 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!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

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!

Vinart provided complimentary admission to the Croatian Wine Icons workshop. 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 12 Croatian Wine Icons appeared first on Wine Travel.

Kaldir, located on a hillside above the Mirna valley, has largely been known as an essential fruit-growing area in Istria, Croatia. But since the wine quality revolution in Istria started about two decades ago, Kaldir is gaining a new facet to its reputation.

BENVENUTI BRINGS THE VINOUS WELCOME TO KALDIR

Leading the charge in Kaldir is the Benvenuti family. The family’s modern winemaking history was established by Pier Benvenuti, who planted vines in the area in 1946. In 2003, his son Livio and grandsons Albert and Nikola decided to align the winery to a commercial, quality-driven vision. By 2006, the Benvenuti Winery had earned its first championship title at the local Vinistra competition, and again in 2007, sealing their position as a leading Croatian producer in Istria, especially for its fresh Malvazija Istarska. The winning streak continues today as Benvenuti Winery regularly receives medals at international wine competitions like Decanter World Wine Awards and International Wine Challenge.

As its name suggests, Benvenuti has always been a welcoming symbol: a classic producer that exemplifies its birthplace, a wine that is more honest than showy, and a portfolio that communicates approachability. It is one of those wines that you bring to a dinner party in Croatia and your hosts would eagerly say, “Oh! Benvenuti!”

VINEYARDS AND VARIETIES

Today, the estate vineyards, totaling 20 hectares, are home to mainly local varieties like Malvazija Istarska, Teran, and Muscat Momjanski (Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains that has been cultivated in this region, specifically Motovun, for hundreds of years). All three varieties are used for making varietal wines.

“When my brother and I decided that winemaking is something we want to do for the rest of our lives and we want to turn our family tradition from hobby winemaking to professional winemaking, we decided too that we will focus on traditional varieties that we’ve had here in Kaldir and Motovun for centuries,” says Nikola Benvenuti.

International varieties like Nebbiolo, Merlot, and Tempranillo are cultivated as well for a red wine blend called Caldierosso.

All vines are planted in flysch soil (sedimentary rock with white clay rich in limestone) at 200 to 400 meters in elevation.

Nikola attributes the quality of Benvenuti wines primarily to the mesoclimates of the estate’s terraced vineyards—influences from the Adriatic Sea, which is about 20 kilometers away, channeling through the valley of the Mirna and different levels of high elevation that put some hilly plots above and some below the fog line.

WINE RECOMMENDATIONS

Benvenuti Anno Domini Malvazija 2017 | 91+ points

€20.99 on wineandmore.com

This is one of the best Croatian whites, vintage after vintage. It is also my benchmark for Malvazija Istarska: whenever someone asks for recommendations for Malvazija Istarska, the Benvenuti Anno Domini Malvazija is the first wine that comes to mind. Best of all, it is a terrific value. It macerates for 15 days at a controlled temperature of 18 degrees Celsius and ages on the lees in 2,000-liter Slavonian oak cask for 24 months.

Benvenuti Anno Domini Malvazija 2017 strikes with powerful, but not heady, floral character: acacia, frangipani, and jasmine. Notes of crème brûlée, peach, and cotton candy further elevate the aromatic intensity. There is an alluring contrast between sweetness and bitterness on the full-bodied palate. Note: a few hours of aeration is recommended.

This wine has a track record of aging well. With age, the wine develops a luscious bouquet redolent of canned peach and honey yet retains wonderfully fresh aromas of yellow apple and the like. The texture gets richer and rounder, and the finish stretches with lingering nuttiness.

Benvenuti Anno Domini Teran | 91+ points

€21.99 on wineandmore.com

I’ve learned to appreciate Teran only in recent months. There is simply a damaging lack of examples capable of disproving Teran as a wine destined to be wild, rustic, and eccentrically lacking any sense of balance. Imagine the overbearing fruit of Dolcetto, the overzealous acidity of Vranac, the hefty tannins of Pignolo, and the sanguine smell of your steak dinner before it gets cooked. That is a ‘traditional Teran profile’ for you. The Benvenuti Anno Domini Teran is one of the few to show that Teran may be worthy of my love and patience.

“We put a lot of effort to build market recognition and respect for Teran. We have never produced any Teran in the basic range,” says Nikola. He believes Teran “delivers more character and longevity” than other red wine varieties in Istria.

“The true beauty of Teran is in its aging process. It ages gracefully.” Nikola believes that the firm acidic backbone of Teran preserves the wine, and with age, Teran gains elegance without losing flavor intensity. With a well-aged and well-made Teran, a drinker can expect the development of earthy notes on top of the variety’s primary flavors of wild cherry and spice.

The Benvenuti Anno Domini Teran shows a refined nose of chocolate, forest berry, and licorice, complicated by baked spice and fresh herb. Juicy acidity leads the good weight on the palate to a pleasantly tannic finish. I appreciate the judicious aging in a mix of large oak cask and barrique for two years. This rendition of Teran is reminiscent of the fuller-bodied Barbera from Nizza, which received DOCG status with the 2014 harvest.

Having tasted all vintages of Benvenuti Anno Domini Teran, including the 2007 debut vintage, I suspect 2016 might be the best vintage yet of this wine. This fruit-driven, well-balanced Teran seems to signify that Benvenuti Winery is approaching a new and exciting chapter with Teran. Note too that 2011 is aging exceptionally well and has yet to reach its peak window at the time of tasting (March 2020).

Benvenuti Santa Elisabetta 2016 | 91+ points

€53.00 on wineandmore.com

Currently the magnum opus of Benvenuti’s portfolio and bottled in limited quantities (4,000 bottles in 2016) in exceptional years, this wine came to the market with a debut vintage of 2015.

Named after the vineyard that it comes from, Santa Elisabetta is a single-vineyard Teran wine. The vineyard sits at over 250 meters above sea level. There, the mesoclimate helps the grapes to develop ripeness while retaining acidity; harvesting happens later than usual encourages more concentrated flavors in the wine. As Teran ripens, the relatively big berry loses water rapidly while retaining much of its acidity and gaining sugar moderately. Green harvest happens in late July to reduce yields by nearly half to further concentrate the grapes. After fermentation, the wine ages for two years in a mix of 500-liter French oak and 1,800-liter Slavonian oak, then one and a half years in the bottle.

Benvenuti Santa Elisabetta 2016 bursts from the glass with a myriad of sweet, warm, and savory spices, complementing a core of both red and dark fruits. Rich and layered, this is like the foie gras of Teran, yet Teran’s inherent quality hangs on tight in this wine—showing bright acidity against the well-constructed round palate. Compared to 2015 (which I scored 93 points), which expressed notes of walnut and dehydrated dark fruit right on release, 2016 appears fresher but also needs more time in the bottle to improve the wine’s fragrance and harmony. The wine is simply not having its last word in refinement or nuance yet, and I look forward to revisiting it soon as Wine&more has 2018 vintage.

Benvenuti San Salvatore (Muscat Momjanski) 2015 | 94 points

€29.99 on wineandmore.com

Benvenuti makes three types of sweet straw wines. One is Corona Grande, a blend of Malvazija Istarska, Muscat Momjanski, and Olovina. The second is San Salvatore Teran, and the third is San Salvatore Muscat Momjanski. I’ve consistently preferred the San Salvatore Muscat Momjanski for its richness and profundity. The grapes for these wines are usually harvested 15 to 30 days late, left to dry on straw mats for three to six months, fermented in steel tank with about a week of maceration. Then the wine gets transferred into the barrel for 12-24 months of aging.

Benvenuti San Salvatore Muscat Momjanski is a single-vineyard wine with grapes from the San Salvatore site, the highest vineyard of the estate. At 400 meters in elevation, this vineyard is above the fog line and enjoys additional sun exposure and temperature inversion. At this site, the early-budding, mid-ripening grapes of Muscat Momjanski enjoy a long season in which they can develop both physiologically and phenologically, while lessening the need to leave the berries hanging for extended periods. Additionally, being above the fog keeps fungus and mold at bay, an advantageous factor for Muscat Momjanski, which is susceptible to powdery mildew and botrytis bunch rot.

Benvenuti San Salvatore Muscat Momjanski 2015 has 220g/l of residual sugar and 6.7g/l of total acidity. A balanced and focussed wine expressing notes of daffodil, tulip, tangerine, roasted cantaloupe, honey, macadamia nut, and ginger spice. This wine comes across quite light on its feet for such a rich, concentrated wine. The palate-staining finish goes on and on. This is a world-class sweet wine and the best Croatian sweet wine I have tasted thus far.

The finest selection of

Benvenuti wines available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Croatian wines?    

If you want to savor the exquisite flavor of Croatian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With many 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!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

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!

You May Also Enjoy:

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.

Cover image: benvenutivina.com

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 Benvenuti Winery: Breaking New Ground in Istria, Croatia appeared first on Wine Travel.

Istria is a heart-shaped peninsula that sits at the top of the Adriatic Sea. Most of the peninsula sits within Croatian borders although there are small parts are in Slovenia and Italy. The region has often been dubbed “The New Tuscany” for its hilltop towns, Italian-influenced cuisine, and juicy wines. Istrian winemakers continue to push the quality bar higher for Croatian wine. Their annual showcase of the region is known as Vinistra.

We attended the 26th Vinistra and tasted through the latest vintages. Our focus began with the region’s signature white grape, Malvazija Istarska. The quality of fresh, dry Malvazija Istarska is high and we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend bottlings from nearly all of the producers. When made fresh, Malvazija Istarska has notes of white flower and yellow peach that finishes with a slightly bitter almond note. The latest vintage is 2018 and after tasting through all the examples, it looks like another promising year.

One grape that took us by surprise at this year’s Vinistra was Cabernet Franc. Istrians proudly grow their local grape Teran and boast that their terroir is great for Merlot. However, the less popular of the Cabernets might be the best option for the region. Several examples we tasted had the classic capsicum, and violet notes with ripe red fruit and chewy tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon has a hard time ripening every year in Istria, so we’re hoping that more producers give Cabernet Franc a shot.

You can see more of our thoughts on the region and the wines in the video below.

You can learn more about Istria and its wines by checking out our videos Cracking Croatian Wine In Istria Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks:

Our regular favorites from Istria showed really well. The Kozlović Santa Lucia White 2016 and Red 2015 are stellar as always. The new vintage of Kabola Malvazija Amphora 2016 is stunning as well as the Coronica Gran Malvazija 2016, Cornica Gran Teran 2015, and Matošević Grimalda Red 2016. The new vintages from Clai, Damjanić, and Franković are also something that you should check out. Instead of writing about our favorites again, we decided to spotlight several different producers below.

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

• Vina Laguna, Castello 2017

The Vina Laguna Castello cuvée has traditionally been Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the first vintage that is a true Bordeaux blend – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. It’s toasty with violet, capsicum, and black fruit notes. The wine is spicy and shows good tannic structure. We tasted it as a barrel sample and it’s possible that the wine is even better once it is released next year. Score: 90/100

• Tomaz, Nera 2015

This is a rare example of Malvasia Nera in Istria. Tomaz has long been known for his Malvazijas, but this wine shows he has the touch with reds too. The Tomaz Nera has notes of sour cherry, white flower, white pepper. Intense fruity and floral yet light on the palate. This is a fun wine with soft tannins. Score: 89/100

• Marijan Arman, Mavazija Rezerva 2015

The Marjan Arman Malvazija Rezerva is a full-bodied, barrel matured white wine, it’s aged 8 months in oak and macerated for 20 hours. This has notes of pineapple, yellow peach, yogurt, and wood. This wine is round and creamy in the mouth and the floral notes come out a little more on the palate than on the nose. Acidity and wood management are very well balanced. This is a wine that fans of barrel-aged Chardonnay should seek out. It’s among the best barrel-fermented Malvazijas that you will come across. Score: 91/100

• Dvorac Belaj, Malvazija 2012

The Dvorac Belaj Malvazija 2012 has a great nose, nice structure, and sweet textural finish. Charine loved it, saying, “The 2012 Malvazija (3-day maceration, 1 year aged on lees. 50% in steel tanks and 50% in 3000-liter oak cask.) was a huge surprise. It was so flinty, chalky and limey on the nose, almost Chablis-like. On the palate, it was linear and light with a pleasant acidic bite and a saline finish.” Score: 90/100

• Legovina, Cuvée Blanc 2009

This is one of our favorite producers in Istria for aged wines. The Legovina Cuvée Blanc 2009 is a blend of Malvazija (60%), Chardonnay (30%), and Sauvignon Blanc (10%). The Malvazija is macerated and the finished cuvée is aged for a whopping 72 months in oak. This is a serious, geeky wine with bruised apple, sherry-like note, apricot, and sweet peach. Shiny and almost Szamorodni (Tokaj) like. This is complex and thought-provoking. Score: 92/100

• Franc Arman, Cabernet Franc 2015

Before we tasted this, we had just spent a week in the Loire – which means our bar for Cabernet Franc is quite high (especially Charine). The Franc Arman Cabernet Franc is a great effort. It has a Chinon-like nose with notes of black olive, capsicum, cherry and more. It’s medium-bodied with firm tannins. Score: 89/100

• Monte Rosso, Nerone 2016

Most red grape plantings in Istria consist of Teran, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. This Monte Rosso Nerone is made with Montepulciano d’Abruzzo and is aged for 18 months in large oak casks. It smells like true Montepulciano with dark cherry, chocolate, and cedar notes. The wine is rich and luscious with chewy tannins making for a great weekday sipper. Score: 88/100

• Degrassi, Contarini Cabernet Franc Riserva 2012

Moreno Degrassi is part of the old guard in Istria. He releases his red wines with a few years of bottle age. The Cabernet Franc Riserva 2012 smells like a Tuscan red with notes of sweet cherry, black olive, and cedar. It’s round on the palate with tangy acidity and chewy tannins. Score: 90/100

• Benvenuti Santa Elisabetta 2015

Benvenuti continues to raise the quality bar with every vintage, we now consider them to be among the finest producers of Croatian wine. The Benvenuti Santa Elisabetta was the best wine we tasted at the show (in addition to the Kozlović Santa Lucija white and red). It’s made from 100% Teran. Charine loved it as you can see below. Score: 93/100

• Ghira, Malvazija Amphora 2017

This is an experimental wine and is not bottled yet. Currently, in Istria, the only Malvazija fermented in amphora that I am aware of is from Kabola. The Ghira Malvazija Amphora 2017 is macerated two weeks in 350 L amphora (above the ground, not buried). It’s floral with notes of sweet peach and fine texture. It isn’t finished product but does show potential. Score: 88/100

The finest selection of Croatian wines

available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Croatian wines?    

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!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

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 Istrian Wine Continues to Rise 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!

Matošević, Grimalda Red 2016

Ivica Matošević was one of the first producers that kickstarted the quality revolution in Istria, Croatia. Like many of the producers in Istria, Matošević focuses on the white grape Malvazija Istarska. The top wines in the portfolio are the Grimalda White and Red – which are essentially the cru wines of the estate. Both wines are made with grapes from vineyards in the hilltop village of Grimalda in central Istria.

We are fans of the Matošević Grimalda White in nearly every vintage, but not the Grimalda Red. Some vintages can be stunning, like 2008, while some can feel a little oaky and heavy-handed. The 2016 vintage is the first step in the new direction for the wine, one that we applaud mightily.

The Matošević Grimalda Red 2016 is a blend of Merlot, Teran, and Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French oak. This is the first vintage in which Cabernet Sauvignon is added to the blend. It comes in at 13% abv and the wine never feels too heavy. This vintage is juicy and dangerously easy to drink. Flavors include sour cherry, mineral, capsicum, and a touch of rusty nail. It’s medium bodied with supple tannins and the finish is slightly spicy.

Fans of Northern Italian reds will find a lot to like here. Good vintages of Grimalda red have a history of aging well if you are patient and the the 2016 should do the same. However, it’s delicious and ready to drink right out of the gate.

Score: 90/100

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

The finest selection of

Matošević wines available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Croatian wines?    

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!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

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 Matošević Grimalda Red 2016 appeared first on Wine Travel.

During a whirlwind five days, we covered all four of Croatia’s wine regions (you can find out more about these regions in our book Cracking Croatian Wine). Over that time there were close to one hundred wines on offer for the foreign press to discover. It was a pretty grueling trip with early morning starts, many hours of bus travel, and late nights. In the end, a thorough overview of Croatia was condensed into a few days.

It was a fantastic opportunity to see old friends and taste new vintages. We didn’t discover any new Croatian wines on the trip. We did come across new vintages and our opinions on a few wines changed. Here are 16 Croatian wines worth trying.

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

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

1. The Croatian Uplands

• Kopjar, Sauvignon Blanc 2017

The Croatian Uplands is adjacent to Südsteiermark, Austria – a premium area for Sauvignon Blanc. This suggests that this part of Croatia has good potential for the grape too. The Kopjar Sauvignon Blanc is explosive but not over the top. It is grassy and pungent with notes of kiwi fruit. It’s round on the palate with bright acidity. It’s quasi-New Zealand style of wine with a snappy, pepper-like finish. It’s not the most stellar Sauvignon Blanc, but it’s a very good effort from this young winery. Score: 88/100

• Korak, Pinot Crni 2016

Korak is one of the premium names in Croatian wine. They pour their hearts into Pinot Noir and it shows in this vintage. The Korak Pinot Noir 2016 has notes of red cherry, vanilla, perfume, and a touch of earth. It’s very elegant and layered, exactly like Pinot Noir should be. The wine is silky smooth on the palate with grippy tannins. Score: 91/100

• Tomac, Classic Brut Nature 2006

Tomac is the name in Croatia when it comes to sparkling wine. The Tomac Brut 2006 is a small lot of bottles that Tomislav Tomac put away to see how they would age. The wine spent over ten years on the lees and has a very autolytic (bready, yeasty) nose. It’s made from Chardonnay and various indigenous varieties from Plešivica, Croatia. The palate is refreshing with lots of white fruit and citrus flavors. It tastes remarkably young, which is surprising considering the nose. There aren’t many notes of bottle age here. The bubbles are fine and persistent and the finish is very long. Once again, Tomac delivers a killer wine. Score: 92/100

Photo from Tomac Winery Instagram page. 

• Petrač, Karizma 2012

The Petrač Karizma is one of Croatia’s most recognizable reds on the local market. The 2012 vintage was warm, which was needed for this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot. It has a wonderful nose of black & red cherry, mushroom, capsicum, and earth. The oak integration is stellar, it is round on the palate without strong wood flavors. Ripeness can be a problem with this wine, but it’s not an issue in the 2012 vintage. Tannins are developed and round and the finish has persistence (photo below is of 2015 vintage). Score: 90/100

2. Slavonia & The Croatian Danube

• Galić, Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature 2014

This is the first release of methodé traditionelle sparklers from Galić. The Galić Blanc de Blanc Brut Nature NV is a balanced and linear wine made from Chardonnay. It feels light on the palate but the flavors are rich and concentrated. Notes include white pear, white peach, lemon, and biscuit notes. The bubbles are very fine, making this wine all about structure, structure, structure. Score: 90/100 

• Iločki Podrumi Traminac Vrhunsko 2017

A vintage of Iločki Podrum Traminac Vrhunsko was served during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. It remains to be a solid wine year after year. The wine has a pungent nose with white flower, kiwi, and incense. This vintage is very intense and the flavors are Gewürtztraminer to the tee. It’s a floral white wine with a touch of spiciness and a bitter flower finish.  Score: 89/100

• Antunović, Graševina Premium 2015

The 2013 vintage of Antunović Graševina Premium won a Platinum medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards. This 2015 vintage is the follow up to that award-winning wine. The wine has notes of honey, lemon, baked apple, and white flower. It’s medium bodied with snappy acidity. Rich and luscious yet bone dry on the finish, it’s a role model for wines made from Graševina. Score: 89/100

3. Istria & Kvarner

• Matošević, Grimalda White 2016

The Matošević Grimalda White is fantastic vintage after vintage. It’s made from Chardonnay, Malvazija Istarska, and Sauvignon Blanc aged in French oak. There are notes of melon, herbs, tropical fruit, and a touch of wood. It’s full-bodied and creamy with a touch of spicy notes from the oak. It has generous flavor in the mouth with just the right amount of acidity. We love the oak integration in this wine year after year. Score: 91/100

• Meneghetti, White 2016

The Meneghetti White and Meneghetti Red are the flagship wines from this estate. Both new releases are wonderful. The Meneghetti White is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc aged in French oak and has notes of tropical fruit, oak, and peach with a touch of yogurt. The wine is full-bodied and ripe. The wood might be a bit much for some but it’s delicious and reminds us of the barrel fermented whites from Friuli Venezia-Giulia. Score: 90/100

* We also highly recommend the newest vintage of Meneghetti Red 2012. Year in and year out, it’s one of Croatia’s top Bordeaux blends.

• Benvenuti, Anno Domini Teran 2015

The 2013 Benvenuti Teran won a platinum medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards. While that vintage is delicious, we prefer the 2015 a little more. It’s juicy and full of blood iron, raspberry, cherry, and cedar notes. The wine has high acidity and is juicy with some Italian flair. Aggressive tannins but delicious with food. The sharp acidity may bother some but it’s a perfect pairing with tomato-based pastas. Score: 92/100

• Boškinac, Cuvée 2015

The Boškinac Cuvée is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon aged in oak for 18 months. We’ve had many vintages of this wine and this may be the most approachable vintage to drink young. It acts like a Super Tuscan, full of red fruit, graphite, and sweet tobacco flavors. Elegant for a Mediterranean Bordeaux blend with a backbone of acidity. This wine has a history of aging beautifully. Score: 92/100

4. Dalmatia

• Ahearne, Rosina 2016

Master of Wine Jo Ahearne crafted this rosé with the unique grape Drnekuša. In terms of color, the Ahearne Rosina 2016 looks like an orange wine in the glass. It has notes of strawberry, rose petal, and minerals. The flavors are in between a rosé wine and an orange wine. The tangerine-like acidity stretches the long finish. Score: 91/100

• Baković, Pošip 2016

Hrvoje Baković is a small producer on the island of Brač. Baković gets Pošip grapes from the island of Korčula for this wine. There are notes of pineapple, lemon, lime, and mineral notes. It’s fresh and fruity with a wonderful tanginess and just a touch of aged notes and a persistent finish. We had this a year ago and it’s showing better after some time in the bottle. Score: 89/100

• Bibich, BB (Babić) 2016

Bibich is one of the big names in Croatian wine, they export a lot of their wine, especially to the USA. The Bibich BB is a brand new bottling from the winery, it’s made from the indigenous grape Babić. There are notes of plum, meat, Mediterranean herbs, and a touch of violet in the glass. It’s ripe, rich and generous on the palate. The spicy finish with firm tannins adds up to a beautiful Mediterranean red wine. Score: 90/100

* We also recommend the latest vintage of Bibich Bas de Bas 2015. It’s an old-world style Syrah with impeccable drinkability.

• Duboković, Moja M 2010

We’ve written about this beautiful wine before and it showed well again on this trip.

This macerated Maraština (Rukatac) flaunts an arresting golden hue and flavors of cherry, citrus, cedar, caramel, and an array of Mediterranean herbs. There’s a lot of power coming from the acidity and minerality. It will be hard to tell if this is a white, rosé or red wine in a blind tasting. A chameleon wine that will surprise nearly every wine lover. Score: 92/100

• Saints Hills, E.T. Dingač 2011

A barrel selection of wines from a special vintage of Dingač. The Saints Hills E.T. (Ernest Tolj) Dingać 2011 was bottled and sold off in an auction for charity. It is rich and has Bordeaux-like flavors and silkiness coupled with the structure and tannins of Plavac Mali. Notes of black cherry, licorice, rose petal, and oak. It’s full-bodied, plush, and highly polished. The tannins are sweet and biting which guide the long finish. Some may complain that this tastes a little too international, but you can’t deny the high quality of the wine. Score: 94/100

The finest selection of

Croatian wines available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Croatian wines?

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!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

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!

We were guests of the Grand Cro Association which provided for meals and accommodation. 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 Grand Cro Croatian Wine: 16 Wines Worth Trying appeared first on Wine Travel.

We tasted over 5,000 wines from 30 countries this year, and it was an arduous task to narrow the list to 18 wines. Our trip back to the USA alone could have filled this list with wines from Napa Valley and Santa Barbara County and other classics that we tasted in New York City. So here it is, Exotic Wine Travel’s list of 18 memorable wines. As usual: while sensory merits are important, there are other factors that went into selecting these wines. Did the wine pique curiosity as well as satisfy it? Did it make us re-examine our assumptions and teach us something new? Did it humanize wine and mean something special to us? Ultimately, it’s an imperfect methodology but good enough to get the gist of our year measured out in wines. There’s a mix of classics and lesser-known wines on the list, which we hope reveals the ever-expanding choices that are available to wine lovers. We highly recommend you to seek out these wines and “drink adventurously” (our tagline). Note: The wines are listed in chronological order based on when we tasted them.

Mayacamas, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mt. Veeder – Napa Valley, 2004 (California, USA)

The first notable event we attended in 2018 was the Wine Writers Symposium at Meadowood in Napa Valley. It was an invite-only event that we both received fellowships to attend. We flew from Croatia to visit Matt’s family in Michigan. After visiting the family, we drove 4,000 kilometers (2,400 miles) across the country to California—during the winter no less.

On the second day of the symposium, we attended the “Master tasting with Steven Spurrier and Friends“, which featured current release and library wines from the Napa Valley producers that participated in the 1976 Judgement of Paris. During our tasting, we had several outstanding wines including a Heitz Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1997, a Clos Du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1979, and this Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. Why we love it: It was a tough choice to pick one ‘best wine’ from a strong 14-pour line-up. However, the 2004 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder was unequivocally the top choice for Charine (Matt preferred the 1997 Heitz a little more because of the aged tobacco and menthol notes). Here’s Charine’s notes: “The 2004 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder illustrates a vivid image of its birthplace—all the signs of mountaintop and fresh breeze! The fruit is exceptionally vibrant and fresh for its age, lined by freshly tilled soil and amber. The sure-footed finish is backed by long-drawn, sweet spice-tinted, fine-grained tannins.”

Harlan Estate, Napa Valley, 2014 (California, USA)

After the Wine Writers Symposium, we attended several AVA tastings in Napa Valley. There are 16 AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) in Napa Valley, and each area produces distinctly different styles of wine. At the Oakville AVA tasting, there was no wine that we scored below 91 points. All the wines expressed ripe fruit flavors with a sense of freshness, rich texture, and a firm structure. Two wines that stood out above the rest were the 2014 Harlan Estate and 2014 Screaming Eagle, two of the most famous Napa cult wines. Why we love it: One taste of the 2014 Harlan Estate left us speechless. It’s a magnificent wine, and it claims the highest score that we’ve ever published on this site (4.9/5 or 99/100). The wine glides across the tongue as if it’s a ball of flavors giving the palate a deep-tissue massage. Everything is in place, in the right order and amount. Everything is complete.

Shafer, Hillside Select, Stags Leap District – Napa Valley, 2013 (California, USA)

After the Wine Writers Symposium and AVA tastings, we attended the 2018 Premiere Napa Valley auction. It’s an annual event where members of the Napa Valley Vintners auction off micro lots, between 60 to 240 bottles, of one-off creations that are still in the barrels. The money raised from the en primeur auction helps fund the operation of the Napa Valley Vintners, including the promotion and protection of Napa Valley. Prior to the wine futures auction, attendees had a chance to attend a walk-around tasting of barrel samples from the lots before bidding on them hours later and receiving them in a few years when they’re bottled. We tasted through the lots in the morning and then went to lunch before the live auction started. One participant told us to get to the lunch venue as early as possible because the wine selection would be remarkable; we heeded his advice. Over lunch, we had four hedonistic Napa Cabernets in front of us: The Continuum 2014, Staglin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Paul Hobbs Nathan Coomb’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, and this Shafer Hillside Select 2013.

Why we love it: The Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 surpasses the rest in this instance. It’s nuanced, structured, generous in aromas, yet focussed and elegant on the palate.

The Ojai Vineyard, Syrah, John Sebastiano Vineyard – Santa Barbara County, 2014 (California, USA)

After our week in Napa Valley, we drove back to Michigan to shoot our series about the wines of Santa Barbara County. It’s our favorite wine region in the USA, and we wrote an e-guide entitled Sipping Santa Barbara: Recommended Wines and Producers to help first-time visitors navigate the wine region. To support our efforts, producers had graciously sent us over 100 wines to use for our video series. The single-vineyard wines from John Sebastiano Vineyard are some of our favorites. The John Sebastiano Vineyard sits on the northeastern edge of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, which is slightly warmer than other parts of Sta. Rita Hills. The vines are planted on steep hill slopes facing west and enjoy blustery winds from the Pacific Ocean. The soil contains clay-loam underlaid by limestone. The berries ripen relatively late here so the single-vineyard wines of John Sebastiano Vineyard tend to show marked concentration.

Why we love it: This is quite a benchmark of cool-climate Syrah. It’s concentrated yet remains approachable and soft. Floral, savory, earthy, and fruity, we can’t ask for more from a Syrah.

An Approach to Relaxation, Sucette, 2014 (Barossa Valley, Australia)

After a few weeks of shooting about Santa Barbara wines, we were on the road again. This time, we drove east from Michigan to New York, where we were scheduled to do a masterclass about Croatian wines. Along the way, we met up with our long-time virtual friend Drew DiMatteo and spent a couple of days with him in New Jersey and New York. Needless to say, many wines were shared and An Approach to Relaxation Sucette 2014 topped the list of memorable wines. Why we love it: Old-vine Grenache grown in sandy soil, plus vinified with some stem inclusion—that alone says a lot about this wine. It’s light on the feet and color, yet it punches with surprising intensity. It’s a wine that I won’t mind wearing on my wrists and licking myself ever so occasionally. There’s definitely deft winemaking (the makers are Richard Betts MS and Carla Rzeszewski) here as well.

Giacomo Conterno, Barolo Cascina Francia, 1998 (Piedmont, Italy)

After our time in New Jersey, Drew came with us to New York. We had a special evening scheduled with another wine enthusiast that we had previously known only in the virtual world. Croat-born American Leopold Frokic invited us to his home. The evening started off with a line-up of Nebbiolos from Bartolo Mascarello, Brovia, GD Vajra, and Marcarini, and the standout wine was this Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia 1998. Why we love it: Barolo and Barbaresco are near and dear to our hearts—they were wines that we discovered together at the beginning of our relationship seven years ago, and they were the first wine regions we visited when our full-time travel began in 2015. This was a wine that had eluded us until that night.

Philippe Pacalet, Cornas, 2015 (Rhône, France)

After New York, Drew wanted to show us more of the Philly’s food and wine scene, so we hopped across the bridge for some Philly Cheesesteaks at John’s Roast Pork and drinks at the Walnut Street Café. Walnut’s sommelier Kaitlyn Caruke (named ‘Best New Sommelier by Wine & Spirits Magazine in 2018) opened a bottle of Philippe Pascalet Cornas 2015. Why we love it: Matt loves Syrah; Charine loves Philippe Pacalet and Cornas but tends to find Philippe Pacalet to have severe bottle variation and Cornas to be too young for consumption. This is an all-stars-aligned Rhône red that’s best when savored, not tasted.

Domaine Armand Rousseau Père & Fils, Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru, Clos de Ruchottes, 2006 (Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France)

After our time in the USA, we returned to Europe to start a series of press trips. Charine was off to the VinNatur event in Vicenza, Italy. One night, the event organizer shared this bottle of Clos des Ruchottes with her. This wine had been on her vision board for several years. Why we love it: It was surreal to see this bottle walked out of the wishlist onto the dining table. Better yet, the wine was in its peak window. 2006 was not a great year for Clos des Ruchottes, but the wine had come around with sustained depth and poise.

Éric Texier, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Vielles Vignes, 2015 (Rhône, France)

At the three-day Villa Favorita event organized by VinNatur, Charine had a chance to discover many new wine producers. But the one that left the deepest impression was Éric Texier, whose wines we were already familiar with. It was Charine’s first taste of his Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Why we love it: Charine appreciates every wine in Éric Texier’s portfolio, including the basic ‘Chat Fou’, but his Châteauneuf-du-Pape was in a league of its own: it caused her to stop in awe, then compelled her to create quite a commotion because she couldn’t contain my excitement. She has since become a vocal and enthusiastic supporter of Éric Texier.

Cave L’Étoile, Banyuls Grand Cru Cuvée Réservée, 1995 (Roussillon, France)

While Charine was enjoying the wonders of Vinnatur, Matt participated in Languedoc-Roussillon Week in the south of France. The week was jam-packed with tastings, workshops, field trips, and food. Matt tasted a number of delicious wines from many different appellations in Languedoc-Roussillon, but it was the fortified wines of Banyuls that captured his attention. One afternoon, we visited the steep terraces where those wines are born. What a site it was.

While Charine is in a never-ending love affair with Port, Matt was never into fortified wines until he met Banyuls. These wines are lower in alcohol (14.5%-16%) than Port and are a little easier to drink. The Cave L’Étoile Banyuls Grand Cru Cuvée Réservée 1995 was served during the last dinner of the the Languedoc-Roussillon trip. It was a special seven-course dinner featuring two fortified wines per course. This was the wine took nearly everyone’s breath away.  Why we love it: This sweet wine is a smorgasbord of flavors. Think dried raspberries mixed with coffee, toffee, pepper, and leather flavors. If you like Port, it’s time to give vintage Banyuls a try.

Clai, Bastovica, 2007 (Istria, Croatia)

After the Languedoc-Roussillon trip and VinNatur event , we met back in Croatia and set out to shoot a 12-part video series, entitled Cracking Croatian Wine, to support our book of the same name. On the third day of our shoot, we arrived at Clai winery in the evening (click on the video below).

Giorgio Clai and his co-winemaker Dimitri Brečević were having drinks after a long day in the vineyards. We joined them and tasted through the new vintage. Giorgio’s mood got progressively jovial as the evening darkened. He began pulling out archive wines from his small, personal stash (he drinks a lot of his own wine), including this Clai Bastovica Teran 2007. Why we love it: This wine isn’t in production anymore as all the vines in the Bastovica vineyard have been pulled. So this is quite a unicorn wine, which—admittedly—makes it even more special. But it’s not just merely novelty; the 2007 Clai Bastovica Teran had gained the necessary complexity through aging and it was showing great class that night. A sublime wine with larger-than-life quality that reminded us of the maker Giorgio Clai.

Kiridžija, Dingač, 2008 (Dalmatia, Croatia)

Our eighth episode of Cracking Croatian Wine focused on the wines of the Pelješac Peninsula. This slender piece of land is the spiritual home to Plavac Mali. The peninsula contains Croatia’s first two appellations, Postup and Dingač.

One of Plavac Mali’s old guards is Vedran Kiridžija, who produces about 15,000 bottles of wine (one-third are Dingač) in a humble cellar behind his house. When we stopped by to shoot our episode, Vedran was kind enough to share a bottle of Dingač from his favorite vintage, 2008. Why we love it: The wine had such a beautiful quiet intensity and harmony that we never thought we could find in Dingač. Who would have thought that the tannic monster Dingač has the ability to walk on tip-toe? Charine loved the wine so much that she teared up. We were also delighted that Vedran Kiridžija enjoyed the moment and the wine as much as we did.

Château Montrose, Saint-Estèphe, 2008 (Bordeaux, France)

After wrapping up our Cracking Croatian Wine video series, we had an intense few months of travel and started the second half of the year with a trip to Puglia (Italy) to judge at Radici del Sud, then moved on to more press trips in Hungary and Romania, and then back to Italy to judge at the Cagliari International Wine & Food Festival. After Sardinia, we went on a two-week re-tour of the Slovak wine regions. After Slovakia, we settled down in Oradea, Romania where we visited a friend and caught up on desktop work. During our time in Oradea, our friend Șerban organized two blind tastings, mixing in Romanian wines with international wines. The first tasting had quite a few surprises in it, including several impressive Romanian wines, a Quintarelli Giuseppe Amarone Della Valpolicella 2003, and this Château Montrose 2008. On first taste, Charine immediately identified it as a classified Bordeaux. This was the first bottle that was finished that night—the most practical identifier of ‘the best wine’. Why we love it: Château Montrose is one of Charine’s all-time favorite Bordeaux as it’s one of the most value-for-money cellar-worthy wines. This wine shows brightness and gossamer texture.

Crama Oprişor, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011 (Oltenia, Romania)

We did a second blind tasting in Oradea a few days later. Șerban mixed in lots of international wines including Rioja, Barolo, and Amarone. We brought along a Liber Pater 2009 (Bordeaux), which showed well. The most memorable wines were the Liber Pater, Château Porto Carras (Greece), and this lone Romanian wine in the flight.

Why we love it: The Crama Oprişor Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 changed our impressions of Romanian reds. We were in Romania three times in 2018 and tasted many wines from the top Romanian wine producers. In general, Romanian reds tend to be heavily extracted, finished with a landslide of oak. This wine is nothing of that sort; it’s powerful yet elegant, and it sings Old-World restraint.

Château Pajzos, Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos, 2006 (Tokaj, Hungary)

After Oradea, Romania, we went back to Hungary for the Hungarianwines.eu study trip, which covered four Hungarian regions in four days. The study trip was a prize we received for winning the Hungarian Web Wine Writing contest with first place in the category of red wine and runner-up in Hungarian food and wine pairing. We were joined on the trip by other winners of the contest and a group of Cava producers from Catalunya, Spain.

This trip marked our third visit to Tokaj in 2018. It’s a region that fascinates us endlessly, and we’re always happy to return to Tokaj. This time around, we visited Château Pajzos. The managing director of Château Pajzos, Laurent Comas, guided us through the old cellars and a tasting of current releases and archive wines. While the Château Pajzos Eszencia 2000 was ethereal, it was the Château Pajzos Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2006 that unanimously impressed our whole group. Why we love it: The wine was beautiful: stewy notes with primary fruit dialed back; good balance of acid and sugar that paved the way for current drinkability. But what captivated us was the overall beauty of that moment: drinking the wine in the Tokaji cellar (drinking Tokaji wine in a traditional Tokaji cellar should be on the bucket list of every wine lover) with a group of like-minded people.

Mlečnik, Rebula, 2009 (Vipava, Slovenia)

Immediately after the Hungarian wine study trip, we had to attend another press trip in Slovenia. The schedule almost seemed improbable until a virtual friend came to our rescue—coincidently, Sašo Papp of Vinoo.co was attending the same wine event that we were attending in Hungary, and he graciously offered to drive us from the Etyek wine region in Hungary to Vipava Valley in Slovenia.

The Vipavska Rebula event was a sensory explosion. The press trip was sponsored by six quality-minded producers Burja, Batič, Slavček, Guerilla, Mlečnik, and Svetlik along with the Slovenian Tourist Board. We visited Mlečnik in 2017, so we were already familiar with their wines. However, nothing prepared us for the wines they pulled from the archive at the event. Valter Mlečnik and his son Klemen Mlečnik presented their Mlečnik Rebula 2009 and Mlečnik Ana Cuvée 2011. We sampled the Mlečnik Rebula 2009 twice during the trip. It was the best wine of the trip. Hold on, it was the best amber wine we tasted in 2018. Why we love it: Mlečnik Rebula 2009 is the epitome of harmony in a bottle. Nothing sticks out, nothing is left behind. It hits every point on the palate with concentration and focus. A true masterpiece. If this wine is indicative of where Vipavska Rebula (Rebula/Ribolla Gialla wine from Vipava Valley) is heading, then we are in for an enormous treat.

Ramos Pinto, Vintage Port, 1982 (Douro, Portugal)

Shortly after our time in Slovenia, we were on the road again, this time to Portugal. The AEVP (Association of Port Wine Companies, also known as Caves do Vinho do Porto) had invited us to Port Wine Day and the declaration ceremony of the 2016 Vintage Port.

Charine is resolutely partial to Port because her first sip of wine at a tender age was a Tawny Port. We were assigned to visit and stay a night at Ramos Pinto in the Douro. Jorge Rosas, Export Director and heir of the family winery, took us through the Ramos Pinto portfolio including a few older vintage Ports. When Charine tasted the Ramos Pinto Vintage Port 1982, she instantly knew it would be on this list. Why we love it: It’s Matt’s birth year wine, so that gives it an extra sheen. Ramos Pinto Vintage Port 1982 has absolutely the most divine bouquet of walnut cookie and meringue. Medium-bodied palate with resolved tannins. The finish is so long that it can keep one company for the whole evening.

Argentiera, Bolgheri Superiore, 2015 (Tuscany, Italy)

After Portugal, we returned to Croatia for a press tour to all four major wine regions, made a short trip to Vienna for the Orange Wine Festival 2018, and judged at the IWCB wine competition in Romania. As winter approached, we headed back to Charine’s home country Singapore to escape the cold. Along the way, we made a convenient detour to Hong Kong, where we shared a number of memorable wines with our friends including a Ridge Monte Bello 1998 and a Bruno Giacosa Santo Stefano Barbaresco 2007. We also attended Pinot Palooza and James Suckling’s Great Wines of Italy; the latter was where we tasted the final wine on our list. Why we love it: We tasted Argentiera Bolgheri Superiore 2015 next to Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2015. Wine Spectator named the Sassicaia 2015 the number one wine of the year; it’s a stellar wine but the Argentiera is equally impressive and comes at a fraction of the price.

Honorable Mentions:

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Brkić Greda Žilavka 2015 (Mostar), Čitluk Blatina Grand Cru 2011 (Mostar), Nuić Trnjnak 2015 (Mostar) Croatia: Bire Grk Defora 2016 (Dalmatia), Krajančič Statute 2015 (Dalmatia), Benvenuti Muškat San Salvatore 2013 (Istria), Enjingi Venje Bijelo 1998 (Slavonia) France: Château Bel Air Marquis d’Aligre Margaux 2004 (Bordeaux), Château Smith Haut Lafitte Red 2005 (Bordeaux), Liber Pater 2009 (Bordeaux), Damoy Gevrey Chambertin Clos Tamisot 2014 (Burgundy), Tarlant Cuvee Louis NV (Champagne), Domaine Cazes Rivesaltes Cuvée Aimé Cazes 1978 (Roussillon) Greece: Château Porto Carras 2008 (Meliton Slopes), Markovitis Xinomavro 2012 (Naoussa) Hungary: Erzsebét Pince Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2003 (Tokaj), Lenkey Úrágya Furmint 2006 (Tokaj), Oremus Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 1999 (Tokaj) Moldova: Chateau Vartely Ice Wine Riesling 2017  New Zealand: Craggy Range Aroha Te Muna 2016 (Martinborough) Portugal: Bulas Porto Colheita 1996, Churchill’s Vintage Port 2016, Ramos Pinto 30 Year Old Tawny Port, Quinta do Vale Meão Vintage Port 2016, Quinta do Vallado Vintage Port 2016, Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port 2015, Vasques de Carvalho 30 Year Old Tawny Port, Vallado Vintage Port 2016, Vieira de Sousa Agua Alta Vintage Port 2016 Italy: Terlan Nova Domus Terlaner Riserva 2015 (Alto-Adige), Fratelli Serra Vernaccia di Oristano 2002 (Sardinia), Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 2013 (Tuscany), Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve 2015 (Tuscany), Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2015 (Tuscany), Antinori Tignanello 2015 (Tuscany), Fontodi Vigna del Sorbo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2015 (Tuscany), Quintarelli Giuseppe Amarone Della Valpolicella 2003 (Veneto) Romania: Davino Flamboyant 2012 (Dealu Mare) Slovakia: J&J Ostrožović Tokajské Výber 6 Putñový 2003 (Tokaj), Organic Cuvée Marie Vallis Albus Exclusive Biele Suché 2015 (Strekov, Južnoslovenskà/South Slovakia) Slovenia: Batič Angel Pinela 2015 (Vipava Valley), Movia Veliko Rdeće 1998 (Goriška Brda) Spain: R. Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva 1995 (Rioja), Remelluri Rioja Blanco 2012 (Rioja) USA: Christian Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon 1974 (Napa Valley), Cliff Lede Poetry 2005 (Napa Valley), Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1979 (Napa Valley), Heitz Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 (Napa Valley), Schramsberg Reserve Late Disgorged 1997 (Napa Valley), VHR Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 2015 (Napa Valley), Bonaccorsi Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard 2014 (Santa Barbara), Liquid Farm Golden Slope 2015 (Santa Barbara), Samsara Pinot Noir Las Hermanas 2013 (Santa Barbara), Ridge Monte Bello 1998 (Santa Cruz)  Dishes of the Year: Baby squid ink barley with sheep cheese (Hotel Ola, Croatia), Pag lamb on grill (Boškinac Restaurant, Croatia), pasta with blue crab from Croatia’s Neretva river (Hotel Merlot, Croatia), fresh aoli with escargot from Vallée de l’Agly (Roussillon, France), Burrata cheese from Puglia (Italy), Pasticciotti (1489 Food Pop Gallipoli in Italy), raw seafood at Ristorante Al Pescatore (Bari, Puglia, Italy), Idrijski Žlikrofi (Gostilna pri Škafarju, Slovenia) Food and Wine Pairing of the Year: Meadowood Napa Valley’s roasted squab with smooked cranberry, salted clementine and parsip paired with Chase Cellars ‘Hayne Vineyard’ Zinfandel 2015 (Napa Valley)–wine selected by Gillian Ballance MS Restaurant of the Year: Boškinac (Novalja, Pag Island, Croatia) Sommelier of the Year: Tihomir Purišić (Dubravkin Put Restaurant in Zagreb, Croatia) Wine Event of the Year: Premiere Napa Valley’s Oakville AVA Tasting Winery Visit of the Year: Ramos Pinto (Douro, Portugal)

The finest selection of

wines available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try unique wines?

If you want to savor the exquisite flavor of unique wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With many 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!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

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 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 Exotic Wine Travel’s 18 Wines of 2018 appeared first on Wine Travel.

The Adriatic-Powered Wine and Seafood from Istria

Watch “Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria, Part 4 of 4” on Exotic Wine Travel YouTube:

Timestamps: Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria, Part 4/4

(0:58) Introduction to the seaside town of Poreč. (1:30) Meet Milan Budinski, winemaker of Vina Laguna Winery and former national spearfishing champion. He catches some fresh shellfish from the Adriatic Sea for us to taste. (2:39) Milan Budinski and his wife Ivana Budinski prepare an Adriatic seafood feast from our morning catch. The meal is paired well with a Malvazija Istarska wine from Vina Laguna Winery. (4:35) Learn about the terra rossa (Italian for “red earth”) soil of western Istria. Terra rossa is a red, clay-like soil with good drainage characteristics. (6:17) Meet Dimitri Brečević of Piquentum Winery. He takes us up to the remote village of Vrh and shows us some vineyards. (7:27) Meet Adriano Grbac of Grbac Winery, one of the first wineries in Croatia to make traditional-method sparkling wine. He doesn’t sell his wines in retail shops, so these wines can only be bought at the cellar. (9:12) Discover one of the most famous restaurants in Istria, Konoba Stari Podrum. (10:12) Meet Marino Markežić and Ana Markežić of Kabola Winery, a certified organic wine producer. Kabola is best known for its Malvazija and Teran wines, including a few examples made in amphora (Georgian qvevri). (12:18) We wrap up our time in Istria and offer a preview of the upcoming episodes about Dalmatia.

View, like, share the full episode on our Facebook Page:

The finest selection of

Croatian wines available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Croatian wines?

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!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

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!

You May Also Enjoy: Making Cracking Croatian Wine

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 Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria (Part 4/4) appeared first on Wine Travel.

In the Spring of 2018, we set out on a re-tour of Croatia to bring our book Cracking Croatian Wine: A Visitor Friendly-Guide to life. There was so much to share about Istria that we ended up shooting four episodes there. This is part 3 of 4 about Istria.

Istrian Gastronomy

In part 1 of Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria, we offer an overview of the wine grape-growing condition and a peek at what Istrian cuisine has to offer. In part 2, we shift the focus to Malvazija Istarska, the most widely planted grape in the region. In this episode, we continue to explore the wines of Istria, but what’s slightly different from our usual videos is the focus on gastronomy.

Istria is a wine region full of culinary delights. The red wines of Istria are generally more acidic and juicier compared to its counterparts from the rest of Croatia. This style of wine goes exceptionally well with food. The white wines of Istria range from the comfortably aromatic and summery fresh style to oaked and age-worthy, both of which can be paired well with seafood, pasta, and cheese.

Istrian Truffles

What visitors shouldn’t miss is the Istarski Tartuf, which means “Istrian Truffle”. It is usually shaved and sprinkled over pasta, steak, scrambled egg, and seafood. White truffles grow in only a few places in the world, including small pockets of Slovenia, Italy, France, and Croatia. Unlike their black counterparts, white truffles grow during specific times of the year. In Istria, the white truffle season is October to February. It is not uncommon to see this white rarity sell for over €2,000 per kilogram.

Istria is arguably the only wine region in Croatia that has managed to marry—in a sustainable, happily-ever-after way—its gastronomic and viticulture traditions and package this marriage in a modern and accessible way to create the ultimate gastronomy experience.

Watch “Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria, Part 3 of 4” on Exotic Wine Travel YouTube:

Timestamps: Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria, Part 3/4

(0:57) Explore a medieval hilltop town called Grožnjan.

(1:22) Meet Ivan Damjanić of Damjanić Winery (Poreč town). Ivan makes one of our favorite Croatian red wines: the Damjanić Clemente.

(2:40) Check out the wine bar ItIstria in the town of Umag. It’s a one-stop place owned by several restaurant owners and wineries like Coronica, Cuj, Degrassi, and Kozlović.

(2:53) Meet Moreno Coronica of Coronica Winery (Umag town). He produces some of Croatia’s greatest white and red wines.

(3:20) Meet Moreno Degrassi of Degrassi Winery (in the coastal town Savudrija). He produces juicy, Italian-style wines that always offer great value for money.

(4:08) We head to the picturesque town of Rovinj and pop by Villa Dobravac for a wine-and-tapas pairing lunch.

(6:08) Come with us to the hilltop town of Buzet. The Prodan Tartufi family helps us hunt for some delicious Istrian truffles for dinner.

(9:04) Check out the different dishes that can be made with Istrian truffles.

(10:22) At the gala dinner of the 25th annual VinIstra, we meet with renowned wine personality Steven Spurrier, Decanter Magazine‘s consultant editor and the organizer of the 1976 Judgment of Paris. We also get a chance to taste his English sparkling wine, the Bride Valley’s Blanc de Blancs 2014.

(10:48) More Istrian culinary delights and a sweet ending from Benvenuti Winery.

(11:36) Preview of the next episode, Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria (Part 4 of 4).

View, like, share the full episode on our Facebook Page:

The finest selection of

Croatian wines available at:

Shipping is available EU-wide and to the UK.

Check out Croatian Wines Available in the USA.

************

    Do you want to try Croatian wines?    

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!

************

Want to learn more about wine?

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!

You May Also Enjoy Making Cracking Croatian Wine

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 Cracking Croatian Wine in Istria (Part 3/4) appeared first on Wine Travel.