8 Unexpectedly Awesome Wine Regions

It's easy to be blinded by the stars. In the world of wine, you might argue that this is especially true, where the superstar regions of France, Italy, California, and such reign over the market like an "A" crowd of popular high school jocks and cheerleaders. But what about the industry's other, lesser-known wine-producing regions, the relative "freaks and geeks"? The super-niche and cult-cool, popular among their own kind, but equally deserving of more widespread attention.

No one is saying that these regions are necessarily new to the game -- just consider the vines of Spain's Canary Islands, which were introduced in the 15th century. Nor is it to say that they have not yet garnered critical acclaim, as India's wines did just a few years ago in a piece in The New York Times. Just that if they are not yet on your radar, they certainly should be.

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Canary Islands, Spain

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A favorite of WineChap.com editor, Talia Baiocchi, for its fascinating terroir. Wine is produced on all seven of the main islands, each of which is distinguished by its own unique variety of microclimates and mineral-rich volcanic soils. "They grow vines in these holes. It's a crazy, sci-fi-looking place, and it's somewhere that should never have had vines growing on it." Nevertheless, the islands have actually been producing wine since the 15th century -- said to be a favorite of Jefferson and Shakespeare -- and are some of the only pre-Phylloxera wines left in the world. Although an approximate 250 producers make wines on the islands, only 11 are exported to the U.S. Related: Q&A with WineChap.com's Talia Baiocchi

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A favorite of WineChap.com editor, Talia Baiocchi, for its fascinating terroir. Wine is produced on all seven of the main islands, each of which is distinguished by its own unique variety of microclimates and mineral-rich volcanic soils. "They grow vines in these holes. It's a crazy, sci-fi-looking place, and it's somewhere that should never have had vines growing on it." Nevertheless, the islands have actually been producing wine since the 15th century -- said to be a favorite of Jefferson and Shakespeare -- and are some of the only pre-Phylloxera wines left in the world. Although an approximate 250 producers make wines on the islands, only 11 are exported to the U.S.

Related: Q&A with WineChap.com's Talia Baiocchi

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Comments

[HHarvey]

12:50 PM on 02/03/2011

Lebanon and Croatia... interesting.

[dourdinlives]

09:20 PM on 01/31/2011

does anyone remember "virginia dare", once bottled in new york?

[dourdinlives]

09:19 PM on 01/31/2011

try michigan wines. i grew up 15 miles from paw paw michigan, site of the yearly paw paw wine festival. when we were kids we would go there and wait until the adults keeled over and finish off their drinks. when i grew up we would have to drive from drystate indiana on sundays , 8 miles to the michigan state line to buy wines with magical names like, "Molly pitcher", "Peach and Honey"," Cherry Jubilee", and" Bronte." Michigan cheeses which are wonderful, and rag bologna, served with crackers complemented the sweet tasty wines. Sigh! Like the song said, "Those were the days my friend, we thought would never end. We thought they would last, forever and a day."

[teachohio]

03:03 PM on 01/31/2011

By far the best wine region is the Lelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas around Traverse City, Michigan. These wines are sophisticated, damn good and always affordable. Many award winning wines are from this unique region on Lake Michigan. This area is neglected by the wine snobs that insist great wine only comes from California. They are wrong!Check out the wines from this Northern Michigan GEM!!!!

[Jamaul Haul]

02:40 PM on 01/31/2011

I agree the Okanagan wines are great. Follow the valley south into the states and you'll also find some gems. Eastern WA has some great up and comers. Chelan, tri-cities, Walla Walla all produce world class wines.

[smp65]

02:06 PM on 01/31/2011

Some of these places are hardly unexpected...Spain?
I've had some wonderful red wine made in the basement of friends....no sulfites or pesticides and hangover free.

[Aisha Marbach]

02:02 PM on 01/31/2011

Two words: Walla Walla! Seriously, this rural area in Southeastern Washington has some of the best wines in the world!

[HHarvey]

12:51 PM on 02/03/2011

yes, but most people that are wine aficianados might know that. Walla Walla is right up there with Napa, Sonoma and Paso Robles.

[mamacat]

08:51 PM on 01/30/2011

We sampled a muscat on Santorini that was perfection. They don't export, however.

[JHCorcoran]

07:26 PM on 01/30/2011

Tasmania is great!

[freddychef]

06:27 PM on 01/30/2011

the pic of the article looks like its on the north part of lake okanagan, looking across from the city side.

[LLisaLL]

05:05 PM on 01/30/2011

Australia shouldn't be unexpected, even if you migrate down to Tassie. If obvious locations like Spain, Portugal, and Australia, how you you neglect mentioning South Africa??? The Cape Winelands area produces some outstanding wines.

[Ozark Homesteader]

02:46 PM on 01/30/2011

I'm intrigued, but I'm concerned too about the agricultural practices in some of these places. I'd like to know if any pesticides that have been prohibited in the US are being used in some of these emerging exporters. Does anyone know?

I want to make it clear that I'm not rejecting these wines outright, just wondering if someone else here knows things I don't about chemicals and regulation. I remember being surprised, for example, that Chile has a low pesticide use in its vineyards, despite having such an abysmal record for fresh fruits.

[captainkennedy]

12:35 PM on 01/31/2011

It's a good question and you should be concerned. There are a few chemicals available in South America that are no longer in use here. There are also newer materials in use in the EU which are not labeled for U.S. use. What save most of Chile is that they do have very dry conditions and many vineyards don't spray at all - but that is not true for all of them and the regulations are fairly unclear. What truly concerns me is that within this decade there will be a lot of wine from China hitting the market...talk about no regulations.....I'll think this is all a great reason to drink domestic and better yet - local - as the U.S. has some of toughest restrictions on pesticide use in the world.

[Ozark Homesteader]

11:37 PM on 01/31/2011

Captain, I take a similar approach with regard to drinking local (or at least in the US) when I can. I was wondering about the Indian wine too.

[captainkennedy]

11:38 AM on 01/30/2011

Seriously? Portugal and Spain unexpected? Mexico has been making wine for almost 500 years - the others regions even longer.
I agree with many of the comments here - there are lots of truly "unexpectedly awesome" wine regions right here in the U.S. - Missouri, Ohio, Texas. Don't forget Long Island, New York which is producing some of the best food wines in the country right now. Who would have thought that years ago? Really expect more from Huff Post than this.
Let's think outside the box - and in your own backyard for some truly extraordinary wines.

[giverny98]

09:26 PM on 01/29/2011

A shout out to the Oregon wine region!

[mamacat]

08:53 PM on 01/30/2011

We went and toured some of the wineries north of Santa Barbara, CA, and we enjoyed the heck out of the wines that we sampled and purchased there.

[napoleon68]

11:29 AM on 01/31/2011

john cleese from monty python did a video a few years ago called wine for the terminally confused. it was shot in that region, specifically at foxhole winery and at his home. also, do not forget, sideways was filmed there too.

i live in sonoma county and work in the wine business. just to say that only certain areas are the best is ignorant. there are lots of great wines all over the world! so much wine, so little time!

[Dave Harrison]

02:38 PM on 01/29/2011

Cape Cod and the islands have some of the best wines I have tasted. Martha's vineyard has quite a few selections. Hint Martha's "VINEYARD".

[mamacat]

08:54 PM on 01/30/2011

The Vikings' name for North America was Vinland. In one saga, some of the men got drunk just by eating fermenting grapes.

[Dave Harrison]

09:00 PM on 01/30/2011

Thanks for the little tidbit!