By country
ArgentinaArgentina has long played second fiddle to Chile in terms of exports, but Argentinian wine has fast become a hugely popular player on the international stage. Her signature grape variety is without a doubt Malbec, which produces seductive, full-bodied reds packed with spicy fruit, many of which are capable of ageing spectacularly. Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, the aromatic, fruity Torrontés and Chardonnay, amongst others, also flourish here. Much of Argentina is very dry and hot, but the altitude at which many of the country's vineyards are settled is quite high, therefore allowing grapes of a high quality to be grown. The snow melt from the Andes provides much of Argentina's vineyard with the water needed, and recent investment in irrigation systems has allowed this to be far more carefully regulated than previously. This wonderful country, home to the passionate Tango and producer of some of the best beef in the world, has a lot to be proud of, not least its increasingly impressive range of wines. There are 7 products in this category.
AustraliaLike the majority of producers in other key New World countries, Australian wineries are now beginning to focus on their own regional identities and indigenous grapes, while the notion of terroir is also strengthening. Our key producer in Australia is David Lowe, who is also the Vice President of the Winemakers Federation of Australia. David insists that, in order for Australian wine to move to the next step, independent producers must begin to respect and understand their terroir and must focus on their respective regional identities. Currently, Australian wine is hugely popular in the UK, but it is yet to reach its full commercial potential in other parts of the globe. Another noticeable advancement in Australian winemaking is the increasing number of small producers who have taken to organic and biodynamic principles. Until very recently, this was very much a European practice, yet the number of producers who have adopted these techniques across Australia is staggering. Among them is David, whose estate is now certified organic. This year we are delighted to announce that David will take over our Seven Day Road project, an exclusive range created purely for l’Art du Vin, consisting of easy-drinking, fruit driven wines available at entry level. We at l’Art du Vin acknowledged last year that there was a real need for us to bring an increased quality to our Australian portfolio, and this year we have successfully addressed this issue with the inclusion of three new fantastic producers, namely Hewitson, Shadowfax and Cape Mentelle. We hope that you enjoy them as much as we do. RichardThere are 15 products in this category.
AustriaAustria is an impossibly picturesque country, and its wines are oenological gems. The native Grüner Veltliner and Riesling are the country's dominant varieties, and national viticultural regulations are stricter here than pretty much anywhere else in the world. The Wachau region is Austria's most renowned, and quite apart from the beauty of the Wachau landscape, the wines produced here are absolutely fabulous. Classification in the Wachau goes from Smaragd, which are rich and sweet, to Federspiel, which are moderately less ripe, to Steinfeder wines which are fresh and best drunk young.There is 1 product in this category.
CaliforniaI had always fancied visiting California, not only to view the region’s vineyards but also to see if it lived up to its reputation as a great destination for ‘foodies’ like myself. Last October I was lucky enough to finally have the opportunity to visit, and I spent some time in the north of the state, where some of the best and most iconic producers are based. Unsurprisingly, after the trip, I was determined to include more Californian produce on our list for this year. California was closely associated with the ‘hippy’ movement throughout the 1960s, and there is no doubt that this has influenced a number of winemaking’s key figures in the region, During my stay, I was lucky enough to visit the iconic Ridge, where I was most impressed with the producers “hands off ” approach to viticulture. Their reliance on nature and tradition rather than trend and technology ties in very well with our motto and ethos at l’Art du Vin. California is full of iconic wineries, including Frogs Leap. The team at Frogs Leap have embraced organic principles, a decision that has also undoubtedly increased the quality of their wines. It should be added that their wines are certainly not entry level, yet, considering they are of incredibly high standard, these wines do offer excellent value for money. PhilippeThere are 9 products in this category.
ChileChile's ultimate heyday was at the end of the 19th Century, when much of the rest of the wine producing world had been struck down by the dreaded phylloxera. The industry was dominated in Chile by just a handful of families, and suddenly found herself able to fill the void in the world's wine lake, but before too long had slipped into a period of stagnation. During the 1990s, however, many Chilean wineries began to re-evaluate their situation and the wine industry is thriving once more. Its climate is reliable, and their vines seem less susceptible to many of the pests and diseases that plague other countries' vines. Cabernet Sauvignon is Chile's main grape variety, followed by Merlot and Carmenère, and Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay for whites. There are 26 products in this category.
France 
GermanyThe central pillar of Germany's wine producing industry is undoubtedly the Riesling grape, which flourishes in this relatively cool climate. This grape variety shows itself capable of producing some of the world's liveliest, most structured and racy whites, and has an amazing ability to age excellently. The Riesling grape is very distinctive, and it is one of the best grapes for the expression of terroir, meaning that the resulting wine can be hugely different depending on where the grapes were grown. There are 4 products in this category.
HungaryHungary's viticultural history stretches back to the 17th century and, despite the ravages of Soviet occupation and dominance, the country has earned a reputation for its signature sweet wines from the Tokaj region. Tokaji wine is a sweet white wine made from botrytised grapes, and it is graded on a scale from 2 to 6 'Puttonyos', 6 being the sweetest. The astoundingly sweet Essencia measures 7 Puttonyos, and is considered one of the greatest sweet wines in the world.Hungary has also started to produce an impressive range of white wines, and some good reds, and so we see the country's wine beginning to make the transition from commodity to much sought-after consumer product. There are 2 products in this category.
ItalyLast spring, I was lucky enough to make a trip to the regions of Umbria and the Abbruzzi, and I became very aware of the reasons why we Frenchmen may consider Italians to be our continental cousins. Our rural heritage gives us both a love and passion for good food from an early age, while we also develop a keen interest in good wines as we grow up. Similarly to France, wine is part of a typical Italian meal, yet there are some key distinctions between our two nations. Italy is a very interesting winemaking country, primarily due to the fact that, as a nation, it is an eclectic mix of varying cultures and regions with their own distinct local identities. Ranging from the Germanic influence of the Dolomites in the north, down to Sicily and its Moorish traditions, the variety of flavours and smells presented by Italian wine covers an enormous spectrum. Traditionally, Italian red wines tend to grab all the headlines, produce from Chianti and Barolo attracting interest from all across the globe, but I am also a great lover of the country’s whites, and I believe they are massively underrated. This year we have added Trebbiano of Masciarelli to our list, a personal favourite which I am sure you will agree is absolutely delightful. At our recent ‘Meet the Producers’ tasting, we were very thankful for the support of Carlo Vallone, who travelled to be with us from Santi Dimitri, the winery which he owns in the region of Salento,. Over the course of the weekend, his wines were lauded by our visitors, his Primitivo proving to be a particular star, an example of a wine which undoubtedly brings a Mediterranean glow to your glass. Philippe
New ZealandWe French are often accused of exaggerating the significance of ‘Terroir’ and it is only fairly recently that New World producers have admitted to its huge significance. Interestingly enough, it is during a recent visit to New Zealand and particularly Marlborough, that the concept of unique ‘Terroir’ made complete sense to me. As well as being in awe of the sheer beauty of the country, I was also amazed at how well equipped this region was for wine-making. Neatly tucked in a corridor between the Wither Hills and the Richmond Range, the region is sheltered from heavy rain from the west, and enjoys lots of sunshine hours, which gives the region ideal long and dry ripening conditions. But why do aromatic grape varieties like Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling do so well in Marlborough? The incredibly marked diurnal temperature variances are the key to the success of these grape varieties. You could easily have lunch outside in a T-shirt but you could also have dinner in front of the fire with a jumper on! The other important thing that I learnt from my visit to Marlborough is the diversity of terroirs within the region which is divided in three distinctive sub regions. The Wairau Valley is where Clos Henri, a new boutique winery set up by the Bourgeois family that we have added to our portfolio, is based. The Southern Valleys and in particular the Waihopai Valley is where Little Beauty is based and the Awatere Valley which is situated at the South East of the region and has a cooler climate with a later ripening season. I would highly recommend to anyone to visit Marlborough, for its wines, its fabulous countryside, its idyllic sounds and not least, for it fantastic gastronomy! RichardThere are 11 products in this category.
PortugalPortugal is most famous for its production of Port, but it is also home to some wonderful unfortified reds and whites. This beautiful country has regions such as Vinho Verde, Dão, and the Douro in its armoury, and it plays host to an incredibly diverse range of local grape varieties, which seem to have kept at bay the global fashion for international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. There is 1 product in this category.
South AfricaEight years ago I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to travel for the first time to South Africa, and I quickly fell in love with this beautiful country, particularly its majestic landscape and friendly citizens. Love at first sight is an overused cliché, but I was truly stunned by the beauty of what surrounded me, and I now consider South Africa to be my second home. As a Frenchman, the gastronomy of any region I visit is the first thing I scrutinise, and South Africa definitely recorded top marks in that department, with great food on offer, particularly in Franschoek restaurants – although I am maybe slightly biased in that regard! The changes in South African society over the last few decades have been well documented, and a number of years ago we at l’Art du Vin decided to create our own Fairtrade label. This venture has now kicked up another gear, and we recently re-launched the label with far more personal involvement, calling it ‘The Cannonberg Project’. Now, all decisions made with regards to the label are far more personal, and we hope this will allow us to develop the concept more fully and effectively. As well as our own label, we are delighted to continue our relationships with well-established, award-winning wineries all over the country, namely Vergelegen, Ken Forrester and Martin Meinert. Over the course of my last few South African trips, it has come to my attention that an increasing amount of small, young producers are electing to focus on the cultivation of specific grape varieties that suit their local terroir, rather than growing a wide range of international grapes. There is no doubt that these producers are the country’s rising stars, are we are thrilled to include a number of them on our list, including Chris Williams of the Foundry and Eben Sadie. PhilippeThere are 28 products in this category.
SpainSpain is a country that I love for many reasons; its people, its fantastic food, and of course, its diverse selection of wines. It has taken time, but finally, I believe Spain is being awarded the recognition it deserves for its incredible gastronomy, with ‘El Bulli’ named the best restaurant in the world on several occasions. Other advocates of Spanish fine dining are now also receiving accolades by the bucket load, including the likes of ‘El Celler de Can Roca’, which was recently featured on Master Chef. In the same way that the country’s football is currently lauded as the best on the planet, Spanish gastronomy is gradually beginning to steal the limelight once dominated by the well-established Michelin star chefs of France. I visited our producers in Spain last March, and it struck me that, as well as a long-standing affinity with agriculture and winemaking in particular, the people there display a true passion for food and wine. The premium region of La Rioja has always dominated critical opinion on Spanish wines, however lesser known, smaller regions can now compete on the quality front, producing delightful wines with indigenous grapes. Last year we added the Pittacum estate to our list of producers, and we are pleased to continue our relationship with them this year. Mencia is the indigenous grape variety of Bierzo, a region in the north west of the country, and has been likened to Cabernet Franc. Pittacum is undoubtedly one of the best producers in the Bierzo region, utilising this fantastic grape to create their sumptuous Bierzo Tinto. We have also added a fabulous Verdejo from Rueda which is a great alternative to the more mainstream Sauvignon Blanc for those who enjoy wines which contain citrus, aromatic highlights. Richard
