I will add that, from a European perspective, it is difficult to provide a well experienced comment on “the world”. Some might argue with me but I see few to no examples of US wines (finger lakes etc), only the worst wines from Oz, nothing from S Africa and only an odd bottle from any place east of Austria. Apparently wine isn’t produced in S America.
I try to exclusively drink US wines when I am home and every time I am wish we had more US wine here in EU (+ CH to be politically correct).
I’d agree that Switzerland is interesting. The problem is that the wines aren’t even available a few hours drive away in France.
Germany and Austria are very promising. Lots of younger winemakers trying out new styles and lesser-known grape varieties.
In the New World, South Africa, Swartland in particular, is getting a lot of mention.
But I still think the Languedoc-Roussillon is the most promising place in the world. Great terroirs, a plethora of rare grape varieties, adventurous winemakers from all over the world trying different styles, leading region for organic vineyards in France with the highest rate of conversion in the world…
Can the most promising place in the world be the wrong part of France?
Jokes aside, can you give us some more details about styles, varieties and winemakers in Languedoc-Roussillon?
how about China ![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}
I was once of this opinion but my palate got tired of so many hot wines from Southern Rhone and Languedoc. Gross generalization perhaps, but these are the wines that used to predominate our local wine market.
John, can you give me a short list of some producers I should try? I’m a big fan of simple, honest, well-made QPRs from any of the Languedoc varieties, but prefer an old-world, lower alcohol, higher acid style. I do not like at all the Puech Hauts and Chapoutiers of the world. Would love to find some new QPRs.
Here is a decent list of available wines from my local retailer:
Southern Rhone, Languedoc and Roussillon covers a lot of ground. Granted, you did mention “gross generalization” Robert but I wanted to state something that might not be obvious to everyone.
I have tended to prefer wine from Roussillon. For my money they can grow the most interesting Grenache and Carignan around (or at least at par with other regions). I have not liked a Syrah from any of the areas noted above.
JEAN LOUIS TRIBOULEY, LE CLOS DU ROUGE GORGE, DOMAINE DES FOULARDS ROUGES and BRUNO DUCHÊNE crank out excellent wine year after year.
Answer: It’s not Burgundy !
The range is huge. Styles cover dry red, white, rosé, sweet Muscats, sparkling, sweet red and amber fortifieds, and rancios.
Winemaking can vary widely from cheap and cheerful Coop wines, traditional estates and adventurous newcomers doing their own thing. That may involve expensive oak-ageing, biodynamics, zero-sulphites, blending across vintages, tiny yielding micro-cuvées from really old vines, thermo-vinification, unique blends, concrete eggs or amphora.
Red varieties include Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvedre and Cinsault.
Whites are even more diverse, with Grenache blanc and gris, Carignan blanc and gris, Vermentino, Roussanne, Marsanne, Terret, Bourbelenc, Macabeu, …
But perhaps most interesting is the difference terroir can provide. Clay, limestone, granite, schist, …
The list of interesting and promising producers is huge and increasing every month. Revue de Vin de France is a reasonably good guide to who’s who and Guide Hachette, although a bit more random, will throw up a few interesting suggestions. In the UK, MWs Jancis Robinson and Rosemary George write about it regularly, as do bloggers such as http://www.frenchmediterraneanwine.com/ and http://languedoc-wine.blogspot.fr/
This isn’t a bad article in the NYT either http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/28/dining/reviews/rolling-with-changes-of-wines-from-languedoc.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Robert,
I can understand your views. The US market does seem to attract, via the WA and WS scores and the major importers, the big easy styles, like Bila-Haut and Gerard Bertrand. I suppose that is what they think will suit the “American Palate”.
From your local list, I would suggest trying Aupilhac, Leon Barral (Natural so transport conditions vital) and Gauby.
When the vines get older, Northern California cooler climate wines are going to really be something. I think it is just starting.
Cool climate OZ wines are pretty interesting too and this is just starting to be exported in some quantity to the US.
It is incredibly rude of me to reduce another person’s post to a handful of words so let me first say Jon’s reply is a very valuable source of information and should be carefully read by anyone interested in the region. I have disected his post to all for a collective “+1” emphasis to be made to these points.
I foolishly omitted whites from the region which are some of the most exciting whites in France to my knowledge. “Complex” doesn’t begin to cover some of the wines being cranked out down there.
I would add to Jon’s list of “terroir” differences by including “climatic differences”. You get some climates which are MUCH colder than you would ever expect in this neck of the woods.
Finally a BIG +1 for Leon Barral. I have no idea how these might hold up to TransAtlantic shipping but I can say that well handled bottles are mind numbingly good.
Austria.
Gerhard Markowitsch (among a few others) and his Pinot Noir — his Réserve cuvée is just out of this world! — show how promising the Austrian wine industry is. The best is yet to come.
Greece.
A great variety of wines produced, at incredible QPRs. If only they could let go international varietals and stick to indigenous grape varieties, the country’s most valuable wine treasures.
I will throw in a vote for Croatia. They already produce some great wines and the whole area seems to be up for grabs.
I would love for more Hungarian reds to hit our market, but that doesn’t seem to be coming any time soon.
You certainly have brought some terrific wines to our offlines. Given what I’ve tasted, I’d have to agree with Switzerland.
What’s it worth to ya to not tell her? 
I’ll agree with you there. One of my Belgian importers buys his wines and I loved them. I must admit I found his Blaufrankisch even more appealing than the Pinot.
South Africa.
Perfect climate, with a wide variety of soils and micro-climates. Lots of experimentation with varieties in new locations, moving away from traditional varieties that may have underperformed and a slate of exciting young winemakers.
That’s good to hear. Which ones did you like?
Having lived in BC most of my life, I’ve made an effort to focus on the rest of the world the last couple years. But I’ve had decent Syrah from the following Okanagan wineries: Nk’Mip Cellars (Osoyoos), Black Hills Estate (Oliver), Desert Hills (Oliver), and Le Vieux Pin (Oliver). The wines here have definitely improved in recent times.
Swiss land under vine is about 1/10th of Bordeaux…and they drink 2x more than they produce…2nd Law of Thermodynamics rules.
I agree with the consensus that “good to great wine is made in CH”. I (reluctantly) disagree that it is evolving / morphing / changing at an exciting pace. Every wine vendor I know (dozens) profiles new / young / out of the box vignerons from France, Italy, Germany, Austria, etc on a monthly basis in their news letters. I’ve never seen a Swiss one in the spot light. Does that mean they don’t exist? No. They do. But their number is small and it is easier to learn about new producers from other regions where every wine critic / blogger (and their dogs) are looking for the next big thing.
That said, the few out there who are breaking the mould of the Chappaz era guard (who also make very good wines…but tend to all make the same style of wine) are doing some AWESOME stuff.
Ojai! Lots of interesting things going on around here…
yes
The Gauby Coume Gineste Blanc is insanely good but nearly impossible to find in the US. I’ll settle for the Vv
Vieux Pin and Laughing Stock were the two that impressed me. I posted on them at the time.
I’ve really liked the Joie off-dry riesling, too, though the lot I tasted a few weeks ago wasn’t as interesting as others I’d had before.
I had an excellent Nichols pinot a few years back (and an awful Sankt Laurent from them more recently, but I’ll blame that on the grape).
Might sound like a homer pick but I"m not from here. I came here for a reason.
I think Oregon is the most promising wine region in the world.