Magazine

With just a single grape variety planted over 8,000 hectares and producing only dry white wines, a cursory look at Muscadet might imply something simple. But the minute you taste the wines, suddenly the horizon opens up to complex terroir-driven offerings, underpinned by recognition of village-designated growths in 2011. The endorsement points to the quality of the wines, which should most certainly be on your to-try list.

So far in 2022, Germany is experiencing the hottest and, above all, driest summer since weather records began. Weeks without any rain, forest fires, historically low river levels and shallow-rooted plants withered - all the result of 40 days at over 30°C. Under these conditions, it seems a little cynical to call Germany a possible ‘winner of global warming’. But climate is a long-term matter, and many people – German winegrowers included – quickly forget that only a year ago, in early summer 2021, they had complained about fungal pressure in the vineyards caused by high rainfall and humidity.

Located in the southern Rhone, the Costières de Nîmes, Luberon and Ventoux appellations share an ancient tradition of winegrowing that dates back to Antiquity. Situated within wildlife sanctuaries where conservation of biodiversity is key, they offer visitors both spectacular scenery and a distinctly Mediterranean, laid-back lifestyle, all of which is generously encapsulated in their wines. We have selected six wineries that stand out for the quality of their wines in order to turn the spotlight on the common traits between the three appellations, but also what makes them unique.

An article on South African wine pioneers and the dedication to their family heritage is a guaranteed page-turner that will draw you in with colourful characters as you devour each page.

Founded by Christopher Vanpoulle in 2010 to promote Iberian wines worldwide, in just a few years Very Fine Vinos has successfully carved out a prime position for itself in the Spanish wine arena. It has even become the official wine distributor of MasterChef, an institution in the country. Despite its success, the company has always favoured quality over quantity and demonstrates a new way of viewing distribution, one that is based on trust, interaction with people and good wine. After the untimely passing of its founder, the company is determined more than ever to continue on its journey.

Aragon wines hail from one of Spain’s oldest wine regions and were long renowned for their high alcohol levels and very rustic characters. But the tide is turning and over the past decade, they have been increasingly garnering accolades in international competitions and sparking excitement among critics, due to the efforts of several winegrowers, and often by co-operatives, who have successfully promoted local grape varieties.