source: forbes.com
Quinta do Portal, Duoro Valley(Portugal) forbes.com
Wines for the Weekend
Ten Great International Wine Destinations
Eric Arnold, 03.12.09, 04:50 PM EDT
California isn’t the only spot offering fine wines and friendly tasting rooms.
The next time a friend or co-worker says he’s headed to Napa on vacation to do a little wine tasting, don’t get jealous. Go somewhere better.
Visited by well over 3 million tourists a year, Napa can be a hassle, with crowded tasting rooms, near-standstill traffic on Highway 29 and a paucity of dinner reservations (call the French Laundry two months in advance, to the day, but you’ll probably get a busy tone).
To be sure, Napa practically invented high-quality wine tourism. But wineries in other regions around the world have followed its lead and stepped up their game, offering a personal touch, not to mention high-quality hotels, restaurants and tasting rooms that provide connections to their regions’ history and lifestyle. Oh, and they have some great-tasting wines, too.
The challenge is deciding among the many attractive options, from Chile to South Africa to Australia. Each, says George Taber, author of the forthcoming book In Search of Bacchus: Wanderings in the Wonderful World of Wine Tourism, offers a unique experience.
To research his book, Taber spent eight months on the road and visited 12 different countries. Along the way, he discovered that some regions offer great luxury and service, while others are worth visiting for the peace, quiet and spectacular views.
When it comes to the full package,Taber says there are few better places than Castello Banfi in Tuscany. The estate, started by American wine importer John Mariani, is housed in a spectacular castle, with two restaurants, a tasting room and a fun, informative cellar tour.
It’s a similar experience, minus the pretty views, at Chateau Lynch-Bages in Bordeaux. This is the world’s most heralded wine region, yet it’s notoriously short on good experiences for tourists. Fancy-looking chateaus, yes; welcoming tasting rooms, tours, pretty views, nice hotels and friendly, warm restaurants, not so much. But the owners of Lynch-Bages have built a tourist-friendly destination on the grounds of the wine estate, including a hotel, more than one restaurant, stores, a tasting class and art exhibits.
When it comes to tranquil atmosphere and stunning scenery, two destinations top Taber’s list: Quinta do Portal in Portugal’s Douro Valley and Peter Jakob Kühn in Germany’s Rheingau. Both offer incredible views and some of the best wines in their respective regions, says Taber.
By contrast, Felton Road in New Zealand’s Central Otago region, is not particularly pretty. The drive from Queenstown through the Gibbston Valley to this isolated spot offers nice views of the mountains along twisting, winding roads, but the scenery once you get to Felton Road is a bit raw, says Taber (I can attest, having spent a month living a couple miles away at a nearby vineyard; it’s dry and light on vegetation.).
However, the pinot noirs from this part of the world–and from Felton Road in particular–have begun to turn the heads of critics and consumers alike over the past few years, as they appreciate the wines’ balance of herbal, fruity and acidic flavors.
10 Great International Wine Destinations:
“There’s nothing sexy about it, just the wines,” says Taber of Felton Road.
- Castello Banfi, Tuscany (Italy) - The Banfi winery was started by John Mariani, an American wine importer. One of the more gorgeous wineries in Tuscany, it boasts a beautiful castle with two great restaurants, a wine tasting room and cellar tour. Wine to try (if you can’t get there right away): Cum Laude, $30. A rich, red Super Tuscan: a blend of sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah.
- Montes, Colchagua Valley (Chile) – Montes is among the most well-known Chilean wine producer, but it hasn’t lost its eccentricity. “It’s the only winery in the world I know where the wines are aged with Gregorian chants being played in the background,” says Taber. Wine to try (if you can’t get there right away): Purple Angel, $60. This ripe, plush red is made mostly of the carmenere grape, which is similar to merlot.
- Ken Forrester, Stellenbosch (South Africa) - Stellenbosch is considered one of the most beautiful wine areas in the world, with a Mediterranean climate and scenery reminiscent of the Napa Valley, absent the crowds. Winemaker Ken Forrester made several trips to France’s Loire Valley before applying his expertise back home in South Africa.Wine to try (if you can’t get there right away): Ken Forrester FMC chenin blanc, $60. Taber calls this one of the best white wines he’s ever tasted, better than the best chenin blancs from France’s Loire Valley.
- O. Fournier, Mendoza (Argentina) -This winery is only about 10 miles from the Andes, “so in the background you can see the snow-capped mountains all year long,” says Taber. The winery has a modern design, almost like a spaceship that landed in the middle of the desert.Wine to try (if you can’t get there right away): Urban Uco Torrentes, $10. Torrentes is a grape variety similar to viognier–very aromatic and perfumey, with concentrated fruit flavors.
- Leeuwin Estate, Margaret River (Australia) -Margaret River is closer to Singapore than it is to Melbourne, so it’s a long trip getting there from the U.S., but it’s more than worthwhile. “It’s a little pocket that makes just outstanding wines,” says Taber. The beautiful landscape with old forests “is so isolated it’s not so crowded–you get wonderful service.”Wine to try (if you can’t get there right away): Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay, $65. It may seem pricey, but Taber points out that this wine has been ranked among the best 100 wines in the world by a French wine writer.
- Felton Road, Central Otago (New Zealand) - Relatively new to the wine world, Central Otago is also the southernmost wine region on the planet. Some areas, like the Gibbston Valley, are more aesthetically pleasing than others, such as the Bannockburn area, the site of Felton Road. But Otago’s pinot noir superstars, such as Carrick, Mt. Difficulty, Akarua and Felton Road are all here in Bannockburn.Wine to try (if you can’t get there right away): Felton Road Block Three Pinot Noir, $70. Felton Road is probably the most coveted pinot noir from Central Otago; it’s balanced, subtle and complex in its flavors.
- Bodegas Ysios, Rioja (Spain) - The area has become famous in the past few years for architecture by the likes of Frank Gehry. Bodegas Ysios, designed by Santiago Calatrava, resembles the mountains that lie just behind it. “They also make great wine,” says Taber.Wine to try (if you can’t get there right away): Ysios Rioja Riserva, $30. With other Riojas reaching sky-high prices, Taber says this one is a good value.
- Quinta do Portal, Duoro Valley (Portugal) -Reach this winery by driving along narrow, winding roads. If you’re planning on tasting more than one glass of wine, consider staying the night. “They have a guest house hotel that has beautiful views,” notes Taber.Wine to try (if you can’t get there right away): Grande Reserva, $35. Many port houses have, in recent years, made high-quality table wines from grapes that were traditionally for port. This one is top of the line, says Taber.
- Château Lynch-Bages, Bordeaux (France) -Bordeaux is known to produce some of the best wines in the world. But until recently, the region did not have a reputation for beautiful views or a friendly tourist experience. Lynch-Bages now offers a hotel, restaurants and shopping.Wine to try (if you can’t get there right away): Château Lynch Bages, $100 (for 2005 vintage; prices vary year to year). This wine has long been known as a high-quality Bordeaux bargain, since the price is lower due to the estate’s lower rank in the 1855 classification of vineyards. But the wines over-deliver on quality, year after year.
- Peter Jakob Kühn Oestrich, Rhein/Mosel (Germany) -This is one of the world’s most romantic settings, with mountain-top castles and a friendly, welcoming winery. Don’t be put off by the screw caps on all this winery’s bottles, says Taber–the wines are now the best and most consistent they’ve ever been.Wine to try (if you can’t get there right away): Riesling Kabinett, $27. Taber says this is one of the best winemakers in Germany.
