Alsace

The Alsace region benefits from exceptional soils and a sunny hot and dry semi-continental climate resulting in remarkable wines. Protected from oceanic influence by the Vosges mountains, Alsace enjoys one of the lowest rainfalls in France.

Gascony

Armagnac brandy is produced in Gascony, just southeast of Bordeaux. Unlike Cognac which is distilled twice Armagnac is distilled only once at low temperatures and as a result retains more of the character of the original wine and vineyard soils. Armagnac is aged in black oak casks which are sourced in the local Monlezun Forest which give the Armagnac its special character and colour. During ageing more volume of liquid is lost per year than alcohol. The resulting Armagnac becomes richer and more concentrated over time.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux is the largest fine wine-making region in the world. Its reputation is built mostly on red wines, especially those from the Medoc, Saint-Emilion and Pomerol. Bordeaux has an ideal climate, moderated by the Gulf Stream and tempered by the Atlantic Ocean. The area has the tallest sand dunes in Europe.

Burgundy

Each area of Burgundy has distinct styles and characters. Chablis, Maconnais, Cote de Beaune, and Cote d'Or are all produced in the Burgundy region. The wines are generally made from white Chardonnay grapes and red Pinot noir grapes.

Champagne

The Mandois family, owners of the vineyards in Epernay and 'La Cote des Blancs' areas settled in Pierry in 1905. As one of the original creators of Champagne Frer Oudart the Mandois family made Champagne in the church basement which is still used today as the Mandois cellars. The uniqueness of Henri Mandois Champagne is testimony to the experience of five generations of winegrowers.

Languedoc

The Languedoc region of France includes the Mediterranean coastal plain west of the Rhone which produces a lot of red wine marketed as VDQS or Vin de Pays. There are however seven Appellations controlees in the area, the best-known of which is Corbieres and Fitou. The long hours of summer sun produces wines which are rich and full bodied, often with high alcohol content.

Loire

There are some excellent wines produced in the large Loire Valley area. Anjou Rose is a good everyday rose, and "Muscadet" and "Gros Plant" from near the mouth of the Loire are dry white wines that go excellently with seafood. Another good appellation is the smoky flavoured Pouilly Fume. The Loire valley is also France's second largest producer of sparkling wines, after Champagne. Two of the more prestigious varieties are Vouvray and Saumur.

Rhone

Wine has been produced in the Rhone Valley for over 500 years. Some of the vineyards are amongst the oldest in France. The steep valleys of the north of the region produce small quantities of high quality, dark, powerful, spicy red wines made from 100% Syrah grape. The wines produced here rival the very best in Bordeaux and Burgundy. The flatter, hotter, Mediterranean-influenced south of the region contains most of the Cotes du Rhone vineyards, and accounts for around 95% of the region's total production. The Rhone is a blender's paradise with 23 different grape varieties grown with 13 authorised grape varieties for Chateauneuf-du-Pape alone.

Germany's wines have their own distinct flavours and aromas and typically reflect the soil characteristics of the vineyards that produce them and are generally light, lively and fruity, thanks to Germany's unique climatic and geological conditions.

Riesling and Muller-Thurgau grape varieties account for some 43% of Germany's 105,000 hectares of vineyards and almost 7.5% of the vineyard in Germany are planted with Spatburgunder, or Pinot Noir, making it the most important red wine grape in Germany.

Rieslings have flowery and fruity aromas as well as herbal, spicy, and earthy or mineral notes. The best dry Rieslings from Germany, Alsace, and the Wachau in Austria, are great, intense racy wines while lighter Kabinett wines and sweeter Spatlese, are more familiar as German Riesling.

Organized viticulture in Hungary dates back more than two thousand years and by the 16th century Hungarian wines were the toast of Europe. Today there are a large number of winegrowing areas varying in soil, climate and regional specialties. The Great Plain stretching south from Budapest down the middle of the country accounts for half the wine production. Wines of quality are made in hillside vineyards that dot the mountainous terrain.

Marlborough is the largest wine growing region in New Zealand. Wineries in the area have won a string of international awards for both still and sparkling wine. Established in 1987 on Marlborough's Brookby Ridge, Highfield Estate specialises in making ultra premium wines. Limited production and defined styles ensure the making of consistently high quality wines. The jewel in the Marlborough crown is undoubtedly its Sauvignon Blanc wines critically acclaimed as among the best in the world.

Spain's vineyards are characterised by extreme climatic conditions. Vines can be found growing in desert or volcanic regions and in landscapes blanketed by snow. The grape varieties of Spain grow successfully in places with very low annual rainfall and in extremely damp areas like those of north-western Spain.

Worth noting are regions with microclimates such as The O Rosal, Priorato, Ribera del Duero and Sanlucar de Barrameda where the special growing conditions produce wines with a marked regional character.

The Douro area of Portugal has established itself as Portugal's premium wine region. Steeply terraced vineyards produce premium red wines. Table wine has been made here for hundreds of years notably the legendary Barca Velha and more recently Duas Quintas Reserva and Quinta do Cotto Grande Eschola.

The House of Adriano Ramos-Pinto, founded in 1880, is famous for its estate-bottled and highly-esteemed ports.