Episode 9: Special Winelands

Summer is over, so we're going to podcast again! In this ninth episode we talk about special wine countries. We skip France, Spain and Italy for a change. No, this time the spotlight is on wine countries like Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Lebanon, Greece, China and many more. Wine has also often been made there for centuries, are they old or new world countries? And why do we know so little about it? This often has to do with the capricious history, Ernst knows all about that, of course.

Wines from these countries usually do not have a good reputation, we will show that this is unjustified! We are also going to drink cola with red wine, because the Chinese love it so much! Do you want to know how this ends? Then listen to the Klare Wijn Podcast, episode 9: Special wine countries.

Have fun listening…

Gaia Wines Peloponnisos Monograph Assyrtiko € 12.80

Assyrtiko is the grape of the volcanic island of Santorini. Unfortunately, the grape is less and less planted here: due to increasing tourism, more and more vineyards are being cleared to make way for apartments. This makes Assyrtiko of Santorini scarcer and more expensive. It is logical that the lords of Gaia took the grape to Nemea, to make a beautiful dry white wine in their second winery. Here the sticks do not grow in black volcanic sand on the coast, but in the calcareous soils of the hilly Peloponnese, 600 meters above sea level. This mainland Assyrtiko is therefore more accessible and milder than the island varieties, with more tropical fruit and less saltiness. What it does have in common with Santorini colleagues is that this one is also delicious with everything fresh from the sea.

Domaine Bessa Valley Enira Red € 13.55

Stephan von Neipperg is the famous owner of the renowned Saint-Emilion grand cru classé Château Canon La Gaffelière. In 1999 he started a wine estate in the Bessa Valley, 150 kilometers south-east of Sofia. He planted the vineyard with merlot, syrah, petit verdot and cabernet sauvignon. He uses this to make the Enira, a luxurious red wine with refined use of oak, warm and full of taste. The vinification of the hand-picked grapes is very similar to the method in Saint-Emilion, with sorting tables and a second, malolactic, fermentation in oak casks. Enira is a special wine that will certainly appeal to lovers of quality and soft red wine.

Chateau Musar Hochar €22.70

Chateau Musar makes this wine in honor of the family name "Hochar". The single vineyard they use is planted with Cinsault, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. The vineyards are located on siliceous lime-clay soils at an altitude of about 1000 meters. The long, warm summers guarantee excellent ripening of the grapes. Owner Serge Hochar, who was named Winemaker of the Year by the English magazine Decanter Magazine in the past, has also received his wine training in France. The wine is aged in French oak for 9 months for the intense taste. Due to the classical preparation and training of Serge Hochar, the wine has something of the style that is also used in Bordeaux.

Malvasia Reserve 5 Year Old € 14.95

The Malvasia is also called 'Malmsey' in Madeira. Wines from this grape are sweet in taste and have a ripe and intense character. The grapes come from vineyards in the northeastern part of the island, where the fertile soil and the special microclimate ensure perfectly ripe grapes with a nice freshness. For this Malvasia 5 year old, the wine matures for 5 years according to the Canteiro method in oak barrels. The stable cellar temperature ensures an exceptional balance between sweet and sour. The golden wine has warm aromas of toasted almonds, honey and a light smokiness. In the taste, the wine is sultry and sweet, with notes of caramelized sugar and round, fresh acidity in the aftertaste. Thick and luscious in character, but with a refreshing elegance.