In the previous issue, Honik Style shared the classic wine “CP combinations” from France, Spain, Italy, and Germany. In this article, we will continue to talk about the typical wines brewed from typical grape varieties in the new world wine producing areas.
● Barossa Valley, Australia: Shiraz
The Barossa Valley, located in the southern wine-producing region of Australia, is the hometown of the most famous Australian grape variety, Shiraz. With a warm Mediterranean climate, the Barossa Valley boasts a high degree of grape maturity and a long history of planting Shiraz grapes. This wine-producing region has many Shiraz grapevines with ages of decades or even longer. The wines brewed from these grapes have a unique style, full-bodied, dark in color, with rich chocolate and spice flavors.
● Marlborough, New Zealand: Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough is the largest and most important wine-producing region in New Zealand, where 3/4 of the country’s Sauvignon Blanc wine comes from. Located in the northeast corner of New Zealand’s South Island, Marlborough has a cool and dry climate with plenty of sunshine, which allows the grapes to ripen slowly and accumulate sugar and flavor substances. The resulting wines have a clear sourness with a fresh fruity aroma.
● Napa Valley, USA: Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley is the most famous wine-producing region in the United States. Although it belongs to the Mediterranean climate, due to the diverse terrain and various microclimates, the styles of Cabernet Sauvignon wines brewed in different producing areas are not consistent. Compared with the Cabernet Sauvignon blended wines from Bordeaux, France, Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley is mostly used to brew single-varietal wines with a higher alcohol content, a fuller body, and generally lower prices.
● Mendoza, Argentina: Malbec
Mendoza, located in the west of Argentina and nestled against the Andes Mountains, is the largest and most important wine-producing region in the country, accounting for 70% of the country’s total wine production. Mendoza has a dry climate with high temperatures and excellent irrigation conditions, providing a favorable geographical environment for local grape growth. Especially Malbec, its quality is better than that of other producing areas in the world. The resulting wines are not only dark in color, rich in fruity aroma, but also have a soft and unique flavor.
● Central Valley, Chile: Carmenere
The Central Valley is one of the largest and most important wine-producing regions in Chile, and 90% of Chile’s exported wines come from here. Located south of Chile’s capital, Santiago, the Central Valley extends from the Maipo Valley to the southern end of the Maule Valley, covering a length of 400 kilometers. Carmenere is one of the most famous grape varieties in Chile, and due to the vast area of the Central Valley, the styles of Carmenere wines produced in different regions are also different.
● Stellenbosch, South Africa: Pinotage
Known as the “City of Oaks,” Stellenbosch is South Africa’s leading wine-producing region. With a Mediterranean climate, long summer daylight hours, strong sunshine, and large temperature differences between day and night, Stellenbosch is a natural home for South Africa’s signature grape variety, Pinotage. The resulting wines are full-bodied, with medium tannins, red fruit aromas, and often accompanied by notes of green plants, tar, leather, and other flavors.
