Italy, Tuscany and the Chianti

The Chianti region lies across the hills of Tuscany, between Florence and Sienna. Dear to Leonardo da Vinci, its vine-covered green hills delight the visitors who come to walk, to taste the famous wine or to enjoy the scenery’s shimmering colours. With its blue-grey olive-trees, its medieval villages and Etruscan vestiges, Chianti resembles its region: soft, diverse, and historical. Tuscany reveals its best under the soft sound of the cicadas.

Italy, Piemont and the Barolo

Piemont is one of Italy’s major wine producing regions. This mountainous region of Northern Italy has cascades of vintage wines to be tried.These wines are made using different varieties of grape, the commonest being the Barbera, the very fine Dolcetto, Nebbiolo (probably the best) and the Moscato for white wine. Among the red wines, the Barolo and Barbaresco produce some of Italy, and the world’s, greatest wines.

Italy, The Piémont and the Barbaresco

The Piemont is one of the greatest wine-producing regions of Italy. In this mountainous region of northern Italy, one can taste a wide variety of great wines. The wines are made from Barbera grapes (the most used), Dolcetto (very fine), Nebbiolo (perhaps the best) and Moscato (for white wine). Among red wines, Barolo and Barbaresco produce some of the best wines in Italy and in the world.

Spain, the Rioja region

With over 2500 producers, 500 warehouses and a yearly output of over three million hectolitres, Rioja is Spain’s largest wine-producing region. Riojas are fine, aromatic and balanced. Rioja is divided into three sub-regions: Rioja Alta, Rioja Baja and Rioja Alavesa. Each region has a distinguishable taste: Rioja Alavesa is rounder and denser, whereas the Rioja Alta is more classical and close to French products.

Less well known than the Rioja wines, Ribera del Duero is an area which covers various different provinces with their respective cultures: Burgos, Valladoid, Soria and Segovia. The appellation is relatively new, having been approved in 1982, and yet its reputation is growing fast both in Spain and abroad. In the vineyards of Ribera del Duero there is a one dominant grape variety which far outweighs the others.

Portugal, the Duro valley

The region of Douro is in North-East Portugal near Porto. It is divided into three distinct areas: the Douro Superior, La Cima Corgo, and the Baixo Corgo. The wine that best defines the region of Douro is Port. An ambassador of Portuguese wines, it is born on the poor lands and breathtaking hillsides that overlook the Douro river. Yet, beyond port, the region is gradually becoming recognised for its excellent red and  (...)

Portugal, Port Wine

Produced exclusively in the Upper Duoro valley, 100 kilometres from the town of the same name, ‘Porto’ is an ancient wine whose history can be traced back to antiquity.However, the appellation “Port wine” wasn’t established until the 17th century.Linked historically with England, it is nevertheless with French wines that Port is obliged to compete. (...)

Portugal, Madeira

It is thanks to the ideal environment in which the grapes are harvested that the Madeira wines achieve such elegance and depth. Madeira wine, cultivated on the island of Madeira in the Atlantic, has a unique character, and a rare longevity. Thanks to its strategic position, Madeira became and important maritime port almost as soon as it was colonised by the Portuguese in the early 15th century.Vineyards were planted on  (...)