This map is from the book* Plan statistique des vignobles produisant les grands vins de Bourgogne (1861).*
You can view the entire book online here
This map is from the book* Plan statistique des vignobles produisant les grands vins de Bourgogne (1861).*
You can view the entire book online here
In honor of the late Serge Hochar of Chateau Musar, I created this Google Earth Map of the main wine regions of Lebanon, highlighting the Bekaa Valley.
A few notes from the Wines of Lebanon Website:
Native grapes: A few wineries (especially Château Musar) grow Obaideh and Merwah, although these are more often used for aniseflavoured arak
Wine regions: Most production is in the Bekaa Valley. The vineyards sit at an altitude of 1,000-1,200m, similar to Argentina’s Mendoza
Timeline
• 7000BC Modern scholarship is cautiously confident that early Lebanese create a vine and wine culture
• 3000BC – 330BC Phoenician traders begin making and exporting their wines to Egypt, Cyprus, Greece and Rome as well as what is now Sardinia and Spain
• Lebanon’s reputation for producing fine wines continues into the Middle Ages when those produced in Tyre and Sidon are coveted in Europe and traded by Venetian merchants.
• 1517 What is now Lebanon is absorbed into the Ottoman Empire. Winemaking is forbidden, except for religious purposes. This allows Lebanon’s Christians, mainly Maronites and Greek and Armenian Orthodox, to produce wine.
• 1857 Jesuit missionaries introduce new viticultural and vinicultural methods as well as new vines from French-governed Algeria, laying the foundations of the modern Lebanese wine industry.
• 1918 The French civil and military administration that govern Lebanon between the wars create unprecedented demand for wine, while Lebanon’s post-independence role as a cosmopolitan, financial hub sees the country enter an economic golden age, presenting further opportunities for a new wine culture to take hold.
• 1975 Lebanon descends into a 15-year civil war that stunts the development of the sector
• 1992-present with peace come new opportunities and unprecedented growth.
Today there are 33 wineries in Lebanon.
Lebanese Wine Regions!
I love the direction Portugal has gone. Promoting their own "castas", grape varietals, their unique style of wines and names.
My first visit was this year but I feel like I've been traveling there for a decade while reading and tasting the wines.
I was excited to receive the invite from Evan Goldstein, MS to an educational tasting in Chicago, moderated by none other than wine super star, Doug Frost, MW, MS. One of four people in the world that holds both titles, plus an excellent public speaker and educator.
The trade tasting held at Mortons begins with a flight of 8 wines from all over Portugal. To begin tasting Portuguese wines, you kind of have to just jump into them. No particular region or varietal, just a general introduduction to what the country produces. Unlike their neighbors, Portuguese wines have a common thread to me, being almost completly foreign to every other wine I usually drink.
Portugal is the 7th largest per capita in wine consumption.
Of interest the majority of grape vines in Portugal are originally from vitis sylvestris (wild) instead of the vitis vinifera groups and species. Not to say they don't have any vitis vinifera, most of the common grapes (Tinto Roriz) are V.V.
Officially there are 343 cultivars allowed to be use in wine production in Portugal.
The grapes are really mutated to suit their terroir to support the heat, humidity and resist mold.
Today we will taste roughly 25 different varieties. Now most of the varietals are blended to make them interesting. A few like Touriga Nacional and Baga are great on their own.
The two flights were presented with mainly the first focusing on grapes and the second on regions.
Flight 1
Whites
-2012 Quinta da Lixa Aromas das Castas. Vinho Verde, Alvarinho and Trajadura
-2011 Quinta da Chocopalha Arinto, Lisboa
-2012 Casa de Mourez Encruzado, Dão
-2004 Quinta das Bágeiras Garrafeira Branco, Maria Gomez and bical
Reds
-2010 Luis Pato Vinhas Velhas, Beiras, Baga
-2012 Casa Ermelinda de Freitas Dona Ermelinda reserva
-2008 Quinta da Pôpa TR, Duoro Valley
-2011 Fundação Eugénio de Almeida Cartuxa reserva, Alentejo
Flight 2
-2010 Tambuladeira Monte Cascas Reserva, Douro
-2011 João Brito e Cunha Quinta de S. José Touriga nacional
-2012 Quinta de Arcosso Reserva branco, Tras-os-Montes
-2012 Filipa Pato Bical & Arinto, Beiras
-2012 JM de Fonseca Domingo Soares franco Colecção Privada Moscatel roxo rosé, Peninsula de Setúbal
-2010 Lusovini Pedra da Cancela Seleção do enólogo tinto, Alfrocheiro, Tinto roriz, Touriga nacional and jaen
-2008 Quinta da Sequeira reserva tinto, Douro
Touriga nacional and franca, Tinta amarela and barroca
Map
Read MoreI just finished mapping the communes of Barolo and Barbaresco. Working on adding some of the famous vineyards to this map so stay posted.
Barolo Communes
Barbaresco Communes
Barolo and Barbaresco!
Hello, World!
Map of the Bordeaux wine region with every appellation.
Read MoreOne of my favorite white wine producing regions in the world is Alsace. Capable of crafting many different styles from dry sparkling to lusciously sweet, Alsace is an often underrated. Noble varieties like Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and Muscat deliver each a unique expression of the terroir.
The Alsace Grand Cru classification, like in Burgundy is a designation given to the best vineyards. The regulations are the following:
Varietal Wines: labeled by Grand Cru Vineyard and varietal (100% of the stated variety is required in the assemblage)
Muscat is not authorized for varietal wines from Zotzenberg,Altenberg de Bergheim, or Kaefferkopf.
Blends:
As usual, I've tried to find detailed maps of these vineyards then decided to map them out on Google Earth. Click on the map below and each vineyard to view the name and information for the AOP.
Notes from http://www.vinsalsace.com
Google Map of the island of Madeira with grape plantings.
Key Statistics:
Total Hectares (2011): 478.6 ha / 1183 acres
Varieties by Total Acreage
Major Areas of Production (2011) * • Câmara de Lobos (175.9 ha) * • São Vicente (133.7 ha) * • Santana (73.6 ha)
Match the region with the number.
Map! Hermitage and the Lieux-dits
Read MoreGoogle map of Gevrey-Chambertin
Read More