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By Glenn Rigby
Lots of people enjoy wine. Something for dinner, a party, celebrations, special occasions – you name it and there is a wine for it. "But where does it come from," many of us may wonder. Well, there is the question at hand.
Wine is produced all over the world. Writing on all the myriad wine regions and locations would fill volumes, so I have decided to pluck out a few acclaimed spots to highlight.
* Emilia-Romagna, Italy
In this region, where the vines have found favorable growing conditions both on hillsides and in the lower plains, thus generating vineyards with well defined characteristics, over the past twenty years an extensive planting of international vine varieties has taken place. In the latest years though, this trend has reversed and many local producers are turning their attention to native vines, aiming at the production of wines which are ever more competitive in the global market, thanks to unique and characteristic perfumes and flavors.
That's why, in addition to well-known international varieties such as Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon, or the classic native Lambruscos, Sangiovese and Albana, wines such as Montuni, Pagadebit, Fortana, Canina Nera, Uva Longanesi, Centesimino (local name for Savignon Rosso, or Sauvignon Rosso [Red Sauvignon]) and Pignoletto, are finding their market and are so well received
* Burgundy, France
Many of the vines here have been cultivated by monks since at least the 500s. The names of the religious orders became the names of some of France's most renouned wines: Chambertin, Santenay, Pommard, Meursault. You'll be surprised how small the great vineyards are if you decide to walk around them. Each property is made up of a many of small, disconnected parcels of land. 3500 properties are responsible for two thirds of the 24,000 hectares of vines planted.
* Mendoza, Argentina
The winemaking process in Mendoza is performed by 682 wineries, divided in different types of companies; those who have a long history and began as a familiar project a long time ago; those who have born based on foreign investments and finally; the small wineries that produce small quantity of wines, many times called "boutique" wineries.
On the other hand, since the beginning of the new decade, the "wine tourism" has taken a remarkable position into the Argentinean wine industry. At the present time, the foreigners can visit more than 70 wineries located into the wine growing regions (Northern, Central and Southern). This allow to the visitors learn more about harvesting, winemaking process and history of the viticulture in Mendoza.
SOURCE:
italian-flavor.com
about.com
greatwinecapitals.com
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