EXPLORE EUROPEAN VINEYARDS

March 12, 2021

Explore European Vineyards

Bordeaux and Tuscany are two of the most famous areas in the world for their wine production. They are popular not only in Europe but all around the world. But what makes these regions of wine so popular? To find out, let’s explore European vineyards!

Bordeaux

Bordeaux is such a fun region for wine lovers because it has so many different areas to experience. The region is divided in two by the Gironde estuary, with each mini-region specializing in its own taste. On the left bank is the Médoc and Graves, while the right bank has the Libournais and Bourg and Blaye. Then there is the final region of the Entre-Deux-Mers.

The Left Bank primarily specializes in aging red wine, with Graves having particularly gravelly soil. The wine history of the area is so old that it is considered the birthplace of the “claret” term. Wine tours through Médoc will particularly appeal to cabernet and merlot lovers.

On the Right Bank, tours through the Saint-Émilion subregion of the Libournais are particularly popular. The red wines that you’ll find on the Right Bank are often softer than those of the Left Bank. This allows for a more gentle introduction to Bordeaux wines at large.

The only sub-region that you’ll find that produces specialty white wine is the Entre-Deux-Mers. It fits between the Left and Right Banks, and thus deserves the name “between two tides”. You can find both white and red wines, but only white has the prestigious appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) designation.

Tuscany

Undoubtedly the first wine that comes to mind when thinking about Tuscany is the Chianti Classico. This wine is one of the earliest to be exported from Italy, and is famous for its small basket-bottomed bottles. Chianti can be found at wineries all across the region and will pair well with nearly all meals.

However, there is so much more to the region’s wine. Specifically, the Brunello di Montalcino wine is one of the most popular in Italy. You can take a tour to taste this wine that is made of only Sangiovese grapes. The wineries sit in a beautiful set of hills that deliver a taste that will perk up the senses.

But it isn’t just red wine that keeps the Tuscan region flowing. Siena and Florence might be the two famous cities of Tuscany, but there are others that make their wine available. San Gimignano is one such town. The Vernaccia di San Gimignano is the only white wine to achieve the treasured Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin (DOCG) status. Tours to this town are plentiful, allowing you to taste a wine that uses grape types so old they are mentioned in Dante’s Divine Comedy.

Wine enthusiasts will likely already know of these two regions’ significance to the world of wine. However, informing those who don’t know or will want to visit is always a positive. If you have ever wanted to experience the homeland of some of the world’s most popular wines, Tuscany and Bordeaux are the places to go. You can start here or by emailing here. I look forward to assisting in your European Vineyard Exploration!