This article was originally published on Christie’s International Real Estate’s blog Luxury Defined.
Right now, there’s never been a better moment for armchair travel. And for wine lovers, there have never been better destinations—offering both flavor and value—than the new appellations that have emerged in recent years. So, invest in one of these bottles and prepare for take-off from the comfort of your home. Whether your glass takes you to the trendy terroirs of the French countryside or exotic, desert locales is up to you—a virtual wine vacation awaits.
“It was only 50 years ago that consumers were starting to believe Napa had any potential,” explains Ashley Hausman, a California-based Master of Wine. “Nowadays, it’s difficult to find an emerging region that doesn’t have at least one or two promising producers who could rival the world’s greatest in a blind tasting—bubbles from the United Kingdom, Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs from Patagonia, or Rieslings from the Okanagan in British Columbia.”
What’s Old is New: Quality-Value Hotspots in Bordeaux and Burgundy
Though widely recognized as the gold (or rather, red) standard, Bordeaux and Burgundy are hotspots for innovation in the Old World. Though both still rely heavily on the country’s legally regulated appellation system to control yields, grape varieties, and even the alcohol content of their wines, new zones and grapes are coming onto the stage—offering incredible value.
“Some of the top producers and young winemakers alike are beginning to realize the potential in land surrounding more prestigious appellations,” says Hausman. In Burgundy, for example, the region’s far-reaching slopes are now being cultivated with the same energy and care as their premier and grand cru counterparts. “There are some sensational wines coming from the cooler sites that overlook the Côte d’Or—those of Haute-Côtes de Beaune and Haute-Côtes de Nuits,” she says.
Hausman’s top tip is to seek out some of the best recent vintages—“such as 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016, and 2018, as these sleeper satellites can really out-perform their more established counterparts.”
New World, New Terroirs: Canada’s Okanagan Valley and The Southwest United States
“Being part of a newer wine region is more exciting than challenging,” explains David Paterson, winemaker at Canada’s Tantalus winery in British Columbia. “In many ways, we get to carve out our path here without having to adhere to long-running traditions that some more well-known areas can sometimes be bogged down by.”
In British Columbia’s sunny Okanagan Valley, white grapes thrive, and the region is booming thanks to continued investments in quality—a trend pushing the burgeoning region onto menus and store shelves outside the Canadian borders. Because the landlocked region is so far north, its grapevines actually experience more daylight hours in the summer than southerly neighbors, enabling the region to ripen grapes in what would seem like a frigid clime. In addition, its arid location makes grape growing ideal.
In the Southwest United States, a similar evolution is in progress, as small wineries in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico are gaining recognition. “Not many people realize that these areas are actually the birthplace of wine in the United States—they’re some of the first regions in which European grapes were planted,” explains Jessica Dupuy, a wine expert and author of The Wines of Southwest U.S.A.
Flooding and colonial rule halted early efforts, but in the modern-era grapes are thriving in these arid regions. “We’re doing well with grapes you’d expect to find in the Rhône Valley and warmer parts of Spain and Italy,” says Dupuy, pointing out that many classic wine regions—Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Portugal, and Australia’s Coonawarra region—thrive because of their near-desert climes.
In still other areas, producers are climbing—literally. In Chile, Argentina, and even China, mountainous regions are offering new outlets for wine growing as the planet warms, sometimes at dizzying heights.
Many factors, including slope, drainage, wind currents, and weather patterns, contribute to the effects of altitude, which is why elevation in Argentina is considered “high” at 7,500 feet (2,286 m), whereas in California “high altitude” ranges from 650 feet (198 m) in Napa to 3,200 feet (975 m) in the Sierra Nevada.
Hausman and Paterson both recommend exploring these locales by starting with grape varieties that are already favorites. For instance, Riesling and Chardonnay enthusiasts should begin their adventure by looking for bottles labeled with those varieties from new regions. “As always,” notes Paterson, “Taste, taste, taste, and find out what you like.”
