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Introduction If you are here, you are probably a wine lover. Most people love wine, there is just something about those magic grapes that makes our taste buds tingle. We also love the classiness of drinking a glass. A glass can be the perfect addition to a relaxing afternoon, or a calm evening. A good glass from a good bottle can make any day feel a little bit more special to us. If you are looking for a new wine to taste, something that will brighten up your life with its grape-squeezed goodness, you are in the right place. We are all about wine right here. Wine comes in all different tastes, sizes, shapes, zests, with fizz and without fizz, sweet, dry, red, white, pink… There are so many options. Of course, everyone has their own tastes, some people adore a glass of white wine, others prefer red, and some people would rather a glass of rosé wine, perhaps with a lemonade dash to make it a spritz. Whatever your tastes are there is a wine out there for you, in fact, there is likely to be a plethora of wines out there to your taste. Today however, we will focus on the 15 best wines worldwide, there is bound to be one in this list that will be hard for you to resist! Some are great summer wines, others are good winter wines, for a cozy night by the fire. So, let’s get to it. What are the 15 best wines around the world? Table of contents Introduction Vinho Verde – Portugal Sangria – Spain Pinot Noir – Melbourne Sauvignon Blanc – Cape Town Prosecco – Italy Bordeaux – France Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa Valley, California Chianti – Tuscany, Italy Riesling – Rheingau, Germany Merlot – Switzerland Tokaji – Hungary Koshu – Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan Plavac Mali – Croatia Agiorgitiko – Greece Carmenere – Chile Summary 1. Vinho Verde - Portugal Pronunciation: Vee-No Ver-Day Vinho Verde is a gorgeous wine, and chances are you have probably already had it. We cannot say that it is a rare wine, because it is not, but it is popular and delicious. This is why it finds itself to be our number one mention on our list. When it gets warm, this is the perfect glass. This would be our top summer wine. In the summer, a dry wine is not always what you have a hankering for, a glass of fizz is usually just the ticket. If you have not yet sat down with a glass of fizz on a summer afternoon, you will want to quickly grab yourself a bottle and give it a try. The name ‘ Vinho Verde’ is believed to stem from how much excessive greenery is found in the North of Portugal where this delicious beverage comes from. Vinho Verde is made through a blending of the white grapes you find indigenous to Portugal as well as the infusion of Carbon Dioxide which gives its bubbles a delicate presence. This makes it into a really beautiful and refreshing beverage to help you kick back and relax on a warm summer day in the sun. When it's hot outside, and you want to relax, a glass of Vinho Verde is exactly what the doctor ordered. 2. Sangria - Spain Pronunciation: San-Gree-Uh. If you have ever been on a vacation to Spain, you are probably familiar with this beverage. There is no doubt that this is one of the best wines to come out of Spain. We usually think of Sangria as being the fun-loving exciting cousin of wine. It is always up to the party and in a great mood. Or at least that is the kind of personality this wine has. Sangria is heavily fruity, it is a delicious wine and ripe fruit mixture that makes every day feel like a summer vacation. It is the perfect beverage for any get together. It is often made with a red wine, which may have you thinking it is not the ideal summer drink. To think this you would be very wrong. In spite of how it is usually made with red wine it is actually the ideal summer wine based beverage. There are many readily-made Sangria available at most stores, however, you can also DIY yourself a Sangria if you want as well. It might sound difficult, but once you have the hang of it, it is not actually that difficult. You just start off with your favorite choice of wine, then add in some of your favorite fruits, we recommend berries, and then serve it over just enough ice. It is pretty easy to make really, but in spite of this, it's actually a really delicious beverage. 3. Pinot Noir - Melbourne Pronunciation: Pee-Now Nuh-Waa. You do not usually associate Australia with wine, but this country is able to produce some really delicious flavors. One of these being the Pinot Noir. You will have undoubtedly heard of this wine. Even those who do not like wine so much have heard of it. For the most part, Australia is generally too warm to produce wine. However, in the Yarra Valley things are a bit different. The Yarra valley is found just outside of Melbourne, and its moderate climate actually makes it the ideal setting to make wine. It is great for cool-climate varieties of great wines, just like the Pinot Noir. What is great about this is that you do not need to save those luscious red wines for heavy meals like steaks. You can have it whenever you want, especially if you are having a Pinot Noir! It actually pairs up just right with gentle food options such as a charcuterie board and cheese. It makes for the perfect beverage addition to a perfect afternoon meal. Reds are often seen as being heavy and need pairing with heavy meals, but the Pinot Noir is something rather special in reality. People love it for its uniqueness, and we do too. In fact, we would say that it pairs better with a cheese platter than with a heavy meal, but try it and decide for yourself. 4. Sauvignon Blanc - Cape Town Pronunciation: Sow-Vuh-Nyon Blon-Gk. Sauvignon Blanc is a well known wine, and most wine lovers will usually have this as their go to wine. It is not an expensive wine, but it is a popular and flavorful wine. Sauvignon Blanc is typically a dry white wine, which is not to everyone's taste, but for many this is a favorite, especially if you are not too heavy on sweet wines. It is made in Cape Town. In fact, only a very short 15-minute car journey from Cape Town will you find South Africa’s most aged wine region known as Constantia. This is where you will find that South Africa's climate best lends its help to the production of some of the most incredible white wines in the world. Of these, of course, is Sauvignon Blanc. For those who find beverages like a Chardonnay too heavy, or just a bit much, giving a refreshing cold glass of Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa a try could totally change your life. This is a wine that is favored by many, and you can find it stocked on most shelves in stores as it is a very popular wine across the world. This is another wine that pairs well with some cheese. It is a good idea to make yourself a cheese platter and enjoy various cheeses with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc. If you do, let us know which cheese you think best matches a South African Sauvignon Blanc. 5. Prosecco - Italy Pronunciation: Pruh-Seh-K-Oh Italy makes some amazing food and drink. Coffee came from Italy, pasta was an incredible Italian invention and let's not even get into how good their cured meats and bread is. Oh, and of course, do not forget their ice cream either! But, what many of us often forget is that the Italians have another forte in the food and beverage world… Wine. We often consider wine to be something that other countries are good at, but Italians have a lot going on as well. France came out with Champagne, and the bubbly beverage is delicious, but it doesn’t half have a hefty price tag attached. This is when Italy came in to save the day with Prosecco. It’s not quite champagne, but it is a great alternative. Prosecco is named after a small village in Italy where the beverage comes from, and although the whole country produces prosecco now, Prosecco - the village - is still at the heart of the drink. The original Bellini recipe actually used Prosecco and not Champagne in it, not that you would think so. Which means that those who use Champagne have actually been doing it wrong! So, if you want to be a Bellini master, make sure you do it right, and serve it correctly with Prosecco like Italy intended! 6. Bordeaux - France Pronunciation: Bor-Dow. If we are honest, using the word ‘Bordeaux’ is kind of vague. Bordeaux is a wine region in France that is a genius when it comes to producing incredible wines. If you love wine you really need to go here, you can obviously visit the vineyards as well. It is one of the most aged and most critically acclaimed wine regions worldwide, which is more than enough reason to book a plane ticket there right this instant. The Bordeaux wine region of France boasts a good 120,000 ha of vines and an incredible 57 appellations in the main areas. Only a few of the wineries are publicly open, but you can book to see most. Touring these vineyards can be incredible, and the wines produced in this region are nothing short of delicious. But, the whole Bordeaux area is jaw-droppingly gorgeous, and with endless vines as far as the eye can see, why wouldn’t you visit? If you want a good Bordeaux to pair with a red meat dish their Medoc Cry Bourgeois is a fantastic option. This Bordeaux wine is an incredible red wine that is made from Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. With this in mind though, some people do enjoy reds, but some reds can be tannin heavy, if you are not fond of heavy tannins you may not want to try out this wine in particular, but if plentiful amounts of tannins is for you, there is no better choice! 7. Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley, California Pronunciation: Kab-Er-Nay Saw-Vin-Yawn. We do not typically associate America with making epic wines. There are many things the United States is good at, but wines have never really been a big thing. However, California has the perfect weather for wines, and has absolutely nailed the Cabernet Sauvignon. This particular wine has a dry taste but a full body. It is medium-high in Tannins and its acidity is a gentle medium. It is usually quite a high alcohol content sitting between 13 to 15% AV. If you want to get the most out of a Cabernet Sauvignon then you will want to decant it for about an hour. Its rich flavoring and high tannin content are suitable for making this wine a perfect partner for grilled meats with pepper based sauces in a dish with a potent flavor as it sports a bold taste. You can get different variations of this wine as well, some of them can be fruity, others may be smoky and savory. The Napa Valley Cabernet has a rather fruity taste, with hints of blackcurrant and blackberry, although some may have a hint of mint or even tobacco. It is a versatile wine, with much potential and opportunity for varying tastes. 8. Chianti - Tuscany, Italy Pronunciation: Key-An-Tee Back in Italy, more is happening than just prosecco. In Tuscany another wine is even more prominent and delicious than their Prosecco. Tuscany is often thought of with visions of rolling hills, old towns, and a cozy rural Italy vibe. However, Tuscany is home to some of the most incredible wines out there. Tuscan wines are believed to be some of the best in the world, or at least in competition with the French wines. Chiantis are a wine that is named after the region of Tuscany in which it is made. This wine is typically associated with the wine bottle encased in a straw fiasco. But, the fiasco is only actually used by a few makers of this wine, and not all. Nowadays, the Chianti wine is often bottled in a typically shaped bottle, although you can still get your hands on a traditional styled bottle if that is something important to you as a wine connoisseur. The wine has been around for some time, but since ‘96, the blend for this wine has been around 75% to 100% Sangiovese, and up to around 10% Canaiolo, and sometimes 20% of other red grape varieties, such as the Cabernet Sauvignon. The Classico Chianti needs to have at least an ABV of 12%, and it needs to age for 7 months in oak, whereas a Riserva Chianti Classico needs to age for 2 years. We definitely recommend giving one of these a try. 9. Riesling - Rheingau, Germany Pronunciation: Reez-Luh-Ng. We often associate Germany with beer, after all, they do make astounding beers. However, Germany makes wines too, and some of their wines are to die for. Germany is actually the home to a total of 13 wine regions, with many different styles and grapes alike. Riesling grapes are produced on the serpentine banks of the Mosel River. In Rheingau in Germany, you will find Riesling wines with 2019 Spreitzer Riesling Trocken Rheingau wine is a dry wine which will cost an average of $17 per bottle, so it is not a wine that will steal your wallet. If you have been assaulted by sweet wines that really went overboard with the sweetness, you may be reluctant to give them another try, but this Riesling is not an offensive wine. As a dry wine, it is not going to assault your senses, its finish is dry enough that it stays behind, but its minerals are intense, and flavors such as peach, green apples and more will sit with you for a while. Germany is actually home to plenty of delicious wines, it is well worth trying out as many as you can, but this Riesling is a good place to start. Buy this from the Rheingau region if you want the dry but fruit Riesling. 10. Merlot - Switzerland Pronunciation: Muh-Low. Switzerland is another country that we do not typically associate with wine. However, they do produce some truly astounding wines. Hungary is an affordable place to get wine, but Switzerland ramps up the prices. In spite of how Switzerland tends to lean towards being more costly, if you choose correctly you will get an incredible bottle. Their Merlot is something of a mainstay for them. The Swiss Merlot is a relative of the Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Camenere. It is an easy to grow wine grape, but sadly is prone to mildew. The Merlot grape is also used in wines in Bordeaux as well. The Ticino Merlot is somewhat a surprising wine. It is nicer than you might expect and honestly, most people seem surprised that Switzerland produces wine in the first place. However, when they do make wine, it is made in very small amounts, which explains the massive price tag that often comes attached. If you journey to the Italian-speaking locale of Ticino, you will find their complex wines, which are accompanied by their white Merlot which is an incredible match for foods influenced by Italy in this specifically mountain clad region of the country. Merlot is a beautiful wine, but Swiss Merlot is here to surprise you. It is heavily influenced by Italian wines and cuisine, but has a uniqueness to it that reminds you it is Swiss made. 11. Tokaji - Hungary Pronunciation: Tok-Ah-E. Hungary is another country you would not expect to find great wine. In fact, most of us forget about Hungary altogether sometimes. However, Hungary has been making wine for a very long time. One of their best wines is made in the region of Tokaji, which is also the name of a series of wines that come from this region. However, if you are really into Hungarian wines, look out for other regions along the Danube River such as Szekszard and Eger. One of the Classics is the Kardos Tokaji Dry Furmint of 2018. This wine has a medium body and a typical ABV of 13%. It is a dry white wine made from 100% furmint which also makes it a suitable wine for Vegans to drink. This incredible wine is made from fruit that was picked from vines aged at 20 years old, growing on the Arany Sajgo vineyard found in Tokaji. Why does it taste so good? Well, these vines grow on volcanic soil, and they ripen these fruits with intense character and an almost electric kind of acidity. They age it for 3 months in a tank before it is bottled up and sent away to be sold. 3 months might not sound long for a wine, but this wine does not need much more. We all know that volcanic soils can craft incredible growing vegetation, this wine proves that. 12. Koshu - Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan Pronunciation: Ko-Shoo. Japan is another place that makes incredible wines that often get forgotten. The best wine to come out of Japan however is Koshu. This variety of grape is one of the most aesthetically pleasing kinds that is grown worldwide. It has a distinct rose color to it, and Japan has been growing these for well over 1000 years! How this particular grape made its way into Japan is something of a mystery, but we aren’t complaining! It is probably likely that these grapes entered via the ancient Silk Road trading route, but some believe that it is indigenous to the country. Whatever the case, the wine that is made from these grapes is largely capitalized upon as the skins are thick and can be bitter, they are low in sugar and high in acidity, which means that the alcohol levels in wines without any tempering can sit at a happy 10% ABV. There are different techniques for growing this wine's grapes, some producers favor vine training with the overhead pergola method, some will favor the sur lie technique and how it makes the vines more complex. If you get your hands on some Koshu wines, you may want to check out some pairings. Your best bet is to pair it with a smoked fish terrine, however, it also goes really well with Octopus Sashimi sliced thin, or even a hoisin duck wrap with some scallion. 13. Plavac Mali - Croatia Pronunciation: Plav-Ats Mal-E. Croatia is also home to some incredible wines. We often see them in stores, but feel a bit tentative because it is not exactly an infamous wine producing country. Oh, how wrong we are. Grab yourself a bottle of Plavac Mali and reassess how you view Croatia’s wines. They have everything from super sumptuous red wines to crisp and refreshing whites. Croatia is a country with range in its vines, and their grape varieties are exceptionally varied. They have just about anything to cater to any palette. But, what is even better about their wines is that they aren’t charging an arm and a leg for a bottle. Their prices are actually quite medium, so you can still feel comfortable with quality without having to break the bank for a taste. If you close your eyes and imagine you are in Dalmatia, imagine all the full bodied reds you will find here, waiting to be tasted. Or, if you prefer a white, go to North Istria. Plavac Mali is the grape you will find in a majority of Croatia's red wines, and their most sought-after ones at that. It is the grape best known for producing a robust and dense red wine with gorgeous black cherry type flavors, with gentle hints of spice, pepper, and smoke for perfect flavor and a sensual aroma. 14. Agiorgitiko - Greece Pronunciation: Ah-Yo-Yidd-Ik-Oh. Greece is actually one of the countries in the world that has been producing wine for the longest. The Ancient Greeks loved their wine, which is hardly surprising. But, we do have the Ancient Greeks to be grateful to for vitis vinifera vines being distributed through the Mediterranean. Wine is a big part of life in Greece, and it may even be the secret to longevity over there. They aren’t binge drinking these wines though. They enjoy a healthy amount regularly and everyone knows, red wines can actually be very good for you! Speaking of red wines, one of Greece’s best reds is their Agiorgitiko, it has beautiful and velvety notes of cherry. There are other reds too, like the Xinomavro, but the Agiorgitiko is something very special. As of 2012, the Agioritiko grape was actually the wine grape variety most widely planted in Greece. It has been known most in Nemea, but is found across the country. It is one of the most key varieties indigenous to Greece, and it has many characteristics, ranging from being very soft and gentle, to being rather tannic. It all depends on the growing process and the production process. This wine is also often blended with Cabernet Sauvignon in Metsovo to make Katoi- a traditional table wine. In Nemea, Agiorgitiko is often made into roses of aged oak reds. These are best known for being very fruity, but they do often lack body and acidity, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It depends on your personal preferences. 15. Carmenere - Chile Pronunciation: Car-Men-Air-Eh. We would have finished our list with an Argentinian wine, as everyone knows they are the best, especially when it comes to fruity reds. However, since everyone knows about these, we thought it would be best to look at something a little different. Next to Argentina, an epic wine making country, we have Chile, who also make beautiful wines, although not so renowned. They should be though, especially the Carmenere. The Carmenere grape was long ago devastated by the spread of a disease in France. However, many of these vines had already made their way to Chile where they survived the evisceration. The most celebrated wine in Chile is now the Carmenere. It is a dark red, snuggled in with notes of chocolate, blackberries, and smoky tobacco. While Chile was most heavily influenced by the Spanish, France had the most influence in their winemaking. You can see many French varieties coming from Chile, including Sauvingon Blanc, Merlot, and Malbec. One of the best things about Chilean wines has to be their prices though. Quality and cost usually rise together, but in Chile, this is not the case. Chile managed to, somehow, retain a high quality of product, but keep prices low. Labor and land are usually the most influential factors in wineries, but land in Chile is cheap, so there are fewer fees to worry about and costs can be lower. Not only this, but Chile negotiates their exportation of wines with other nations, and with lower import taxes, Chilean wines stay high quality but low in price. Summary Finding a good wine is not hard. Though we can find some wines that can put us off, many are great. There are so many countries producing delicious wines, and many of these do not even price their wines above and beyond. You do not need to spend a fortune on a good wine, many of these we have talked about today actually have reasonable price tags. It does all depend on the wine you want, however. White or red, fruity or dry. It is all about personal preference. Some people have a taste for whites, others prefer reds. Even those who struggle with issues like acid reflux and therefore struggle with enjoying a tasteful red can still enjoy a glass. Reds from Argentina and California, tend to have lower tannins, so do not trigger acid reflux. If you want a dry white, go for a Sauvignon Blanc, but if you enjoy fruity wines, have a Sangria. We cannot tell you which wine on this list is best for you. Our advice is to simply try them all and let us know which wines from our list you liked most, and what food pairings work best.

Where Wine Is King.

Where Wine Is King.

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