If only one country...

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Dave R. · #1 Post by **Dave R.** » November 1st, 2020, 6:19 pm

If you could only drink wine from one country for the rest of your life and it CANNOT be France, Italy, Spain, Germany [added in late edit], or the USA... which country would you choose and why???

Sort of a fun hypothetical, but I honestly think others’ answers would be highly informative for me.

JBrochu · #2 Post by **JBrochu** » November 1st, 2020, 6:23 pm

Germany is going to be the answer for the majority I think. It would be for me as well since they produce some good Pinot Noir.

November 1st, 2020, 6:25 pm

Chile

#4 Post by **Nick Ellis** » November 1st, 2020, 6:26 pm

Germany, then Greece as a distant second.

#5 Post by **Mike R** » November 1st, 2020, 6:29 pm

Australia, South Africa or Chile. I think Margaret River is producing some fantastic Chardonnay and I love Shiraz. South Africa / Chile for the Cab lover in me.

#6 Post by **D@vid Bu3ker** » November 1st, 2020, 6:30 pm

Yeah, Germany, and it would not be a sacrifice.

Dave R. · #7 Post by **Dave R.** » November 1st, 2020, 6:31 pm

JBrochu wrote: ↑November 1st, 2020, 6:23 pm Germany is going to be the answer for the majority I think. It would be for me as well since they produce some good Pinot Noir.

I almost put Germany in the excluded list, so if that’s your answer would also love to hear your second choice. Is it Austria?

#8 Post by **Kris Patten** » November 1st, 2020, 6:33 pm

Off top of my head Australia or South Africa would be my pick, probably Australia....world class Syrah, Cab, Chard, Semilon, Rielsing, and could even drink some sparkling from down in Victoria.

#9 Post by **Robert.A.Jr.** » November 1st, 2020, 6:34 pm

Portugal. Has some old world dry reds, colares, port, and then best of all, madiera. Given my bent toward old world reds, I cannot think of another that would scratch my itch once you exclude those on the OP list. France is easily over 90% of my cellar.

#10 Post by **Kris Patten** » November 1st, 2020, 6:36 pm

Mike R wrote: ↑November 1st, 2020, 6:29 pm Australia, South Africa or Chile. I think Margaret River is producing some fantastic Chardonnay and I love Shiraz. South Africa / Chile for the Cab lover in me.

Pretty fantastic Cabs from Margaret River, Coonawarra, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, and Yarra Valley.

#11 Post by **Mike Maguire** » November 1st, 2020, 6:38 pm

These days Kentucky!!

Dave R. · #12 Post by **Dave R.** » November 1st, 2020, 6:40 pm

For me it would be Australian. Have had some amazing Tasmanian sparkling wines (champagne caliber) and they offer such breadth of selection among both red and white varietals. And I have almost no experience with South American / South African / Portuguese wine.

November 1st, 2020, 6:50 pm

Germany

#14 Post by **K N Haque** » November 1st, 2020, 6:53 pm

Austria. 100% Austria.

#15 Post by **Joe B** » November 1st, 2020, 7:00 pm

Australia for me.

Tomás Costa · #16 Post by **Tomás Costa** » November 1st, 2020, 7:02 pm

Robert.A.Jr. wrote: ↑November 1st, 2020, 6:34 pm Portugal. Has some old world dry reds, colares, port, and then best of all, madiera. Given my bent toward old world reds, I cannot think of another that would scratch my itch once you exclude those on the OP list. France is easily over 90% of my cellar.

This, but as a native I am biased. I became a wine lover purely on domestic wines and I find that they are objectively diverse enough for anyone, of any palate, to be stimulated for a whole life. It's approximately 250 native varietals (plus a few imported ones) and a really outstanding variety of terroirs for a country for this size. I still discover domestic producers pretty much all the time. That being said, curiosity to look beyond these borders has brought me to this board and I don't regret it for one second.

#17 Post by **Nate Simon** » November 1st, 2020, 7:02 pm

Australia. Easy.

#18 Post by **Kevin P.** » November 1st, 2020, 7:05 pm

Australia.

#19 Post by **Kevin Porter** » November 1st, 2020, 7:06 pm

Mike Maguire wrote: ↑November 1st, 2020, 6:38 pm These days Kentucky!!

Are you trying to get this moved to Politics?

November 1st, 2020, 7:18 pm

Of course, Germany. To go with the spirit of your question it would be Austria or maybe Switzerland.

#21 Post by **Jayson Cohen** » November 1st, 2020, 7:19 pm

Germany, but then I would probably need to do more exploring to decide among Portugal, Austria, and Hungary.

November 1st, 2020, 7:21 pm

I'd give up wine and stick with cocktails.

JBrochu · #23 Post by **JBrochu** » November 1st, 2020, 7:21 pm

Dave R. wrote: ↑November 1st, 2020, 6:31 pm
JBrochu wrote: ↑November 1st, 2020, 6:23 pm Germany is going to be the answer for the majority I think. It would be for me as well since they produce some good Pinot Noir.
I almost put Germany in the excluded list, so if that’s your answer would also love to hear your second choice. Is it Austria?

Well if Burgundy, Oregon/Cali, and German Pinot Noir are all off the table, I guess I'm going with New Zealand.

#24 Post by **M.Kaplan** » November 1st, 2020, 7:30 pm

Germany, followed by Greece. I’m watching this topic closely, so I can put those choosing Australia on ignore.

James Billy · #25 Post by **James Billy** » November 1st, 2020, 7:33 pm

Germany or New Zealand. The former lacks most red varietied (except pinot, of course), but has much better riesling. The latter has good chardonnay, cabernet, merlot, syrah and pinot.

Portugal if I was wanting to be adventurous.

November 1st, 2020, 7:44 pm

Have to be Australia. World class Riesling and Chardonnay. Excellent dry Semillon. Improving Pinot Noir. Very decent fizz. Very good Cabernet, Grenache and Shiraz. Some majestic fortifieds.

YLee · #27 Post by **YLee** » November 1st, 2020, 7:45 pm

Austria

Ian S · #28 Post by **Ian S** » November 1st, 2020, 7:47 pm

Cambodia

#29 Post by **John Morris** » November 1st, 2020, 7:53 pm

South Africa. I've been very impressed with the range of grapes and the quality and balance of the wines from the best producers. Really underrated in the US.

#30 Post by **Uli K.** » November 1st, 2020, 8:07 pm

Germany, the reds are an issue historically, but they have improved a lot over the last couple of decades (Spätburgunder, Lemberger, Dornfelder). Enough said about the whites, they are divine.

They next three: Portugal, Austria, Switzerland. Honorable mention: Croatia.

#31 Post by **Adam Frisch** » November 1st, 2020, 8:07 pm

Australia. Because at least they know how to make really dry Rieslings.

Dave R. · #32 Post by **Dave R.** » November 1st, 2020, 8:25 pm

Uli K. wrote: ↑November 1st, 2020, 8:07 pm Germany, the reds are an issue historically, but they have improved a lot over the last couple of decades (Spätburgunder, Lemberger, Dornfelder). Enough said about the whites, they are divine.

They next three: Portugal, Austria, Switzerland. Honorable mention: Croatia.

Was curious if there would be any Croatia mentions.

#33 Post by **adam landa** » November 1st, 2020, 8:32 pm

Australia...though Israel or Canada could check a lot of boxes.

Fred Davis · #34 Post by **Fred Davis** » November 1st, 2020, 8:45 pm

Probably Austria.

#35 Post by **Craig G** » November 1st, 2020, 9:14 pm

Belgium.

IlkkaL · #36 Post by **IlkkaL** » November 1st, 2020, 10:14 pm

Austria, no doubt.

#37 Post by **Tim Heaton** » November 2nd, 2020, 1:16 am

That's easy, Austria. Germany is an easy second choice.

#38 Post by **Robert.A.Jr.** » November 2nd, 2020, 3:57 am

John Morris wrote: ↑November 1st, 2020, 7:53 pm South Africa. I've been very impressed with the range of grapes and the quality and balance of the wines from the best producers. Really underrated in the US.

Solid choice. Ok, put this one in my second position!

Jan Janas · #39 Post by **Jan Janas** » November 2nd, 2020, 4:03 am

Dave R. wrote: ↑November 1st, 2020, 6:40 pm For me it would be Australian. Have had some amazing Tasmanian sparkling wines (champagne caliber) and they offer such breadth of selection among both red and white varietals. And I have almost no experience with South American / South African / Portuguese wine.

What tasmanian sparklers did you like that much? I tried a few and was very unimpressed!

November 2nd, 2020, 4:08 am

Georgia

Markus S · #41 Post by **Markus S** » November 2nd, 2020, 5:05 am

Portugal: great reds, good whites, followed by smatterings of South African wines and toss in some Lebanese and Grecians and one could live happy.

Kelly Flynn · #42 Post by **Kelly Flynn** » November 2nd, 2020, 5:21 am

Lebanon. I could drink Musar every day.

#43 Post by **John Glas** » November 2nd, 2020, 5:31 am

Australia

Dave R. · #44 Post by **Dave R.** » November 2nd, 2020, 5:35 am

Jan Janas wrote: ↑November 2nd, 2020, 4:03 am
Dave R. wrote: ↑November 1st, 2020, 6:40 pm For me it would be Australian. Have had some amazing Tasmanian sparkling wines (champagne caliber) and they offer such breadth of selection among both red and white varietals. And I have almost no experience with South American / South African / Portuguese wine.
What tasmanian sparklers did you like that much? I tried a few and was very unimpressed!

Can't recall the name(s) and they don't export them to the US. The only thing I recall is they had an affiliation with Haut-Bailly. Would love to explore more of Tasmania, but not easy to do from here.

#45 Post by **TimF** » November 2nd, 2020, 5:37 am

I’d go Germany but if that was removed then I’d probably go with New Zealand.

#46 Post by **J. Migone** » November 2nd, 2020, 5:40 am

Toss up between Portugal and Argentina.

#47 Post by **Kirk.Grant** » November 2nd, 2020, 6:00 am

If I have access to all the wineries in the country...then my answer would be Austria with New Zealand as a close second.

#48 Post by **Mike Maguire** » November 2nd, 2020, 6:07 am

Kevin Porter wrote: ↑November 1st, 2020, 7:06 pm
Mike Maguire wrote: ↑November 1st, 2020, 6:38 pm These days Kentucky!!
Are you trying to get this moved to Politics?

Calm down, it’s a joke son!My tastes have turned to bourbon, but I guess these days
everybody is just looking for a fight.

#49 Post by **Kevin Porter** » November 2nd, 2020, 6:22 am

Mike Maguire wrote: ↑November 2nd, 2020, 6:07 am
Kevin Porter wrote: ↑November 1st, 2020, 7:06 pm
Mike Maguire wrote: ↑November 1st, 2020, 6:38 pm These days Kentucky!!
Are you trying to get this moved to Politics?
Calm down, it’s a joke son!My tastes have turned to bourbon, but I guess these days
everybody is just looking for a fight.

Calm down, it was a joke son! But I guess these days
everybody is just looking for a fight. Sorry, that I forgot to use the tongue-in-cheek font.

#50 Post by **Joshua Kates** » November 2nd, 2020, 6:24 am

Yes, Portugal, Austria, Australia (in that order), and maybe add New Zealand for the Pinot.