9 Wines From Far-Flung Corners Of The World
Most of the wine we drink in America is either produced domestically, comes from the classic vineyards of western Europe, or is made in Chile, Argentina, Australia, or New Zealand. But there's a lot of wines made in other areas of the world, some of which have grown grapes for hundreds of years but for various reasons have remained on the edges of the world market.
Here are nine such wines from Morocco, Greece, and Brazil, with one included from South Africa, whose wines are increasingly popular in the U.S. today. The wines from Morocco, imported by California-based Nomadic Distribution, may be a little more difficult to find than the others.
Lidio Carraro "Dádivas" Serra do Sudeste Chardonnay 2013 ($15). An old-fashioned chardonnay from Brazil with lots of ripe apple and savory notes; full and substantial.
Kershaw "Clonal Selection" Elgin Chardonnay 2014 ($60). An enjoyable but not overly complex South African wine with lots of apple and oak barrel flavors.
Lidio Carraro "Agnus" Serra do Sudeste Merlot ($12). This Brazilian red has tart berry flavors complemented by lots of good acidity and sound structure.
Lido Carraro "Agnus" Serra do Sudeste Tannat ($12). Another Brazilian, quite savory and spicy-herbal with firm ripe-fruit flavors.
Kir-Yianna Ktima Kir-Yianna Yianakohori Hills Red Wine ($17). A xinomarra-based blend from Greece that is big in structure but not in volume with rich, dark fruits and lots of tannin. It should develop further with cellaring.
Alpha Estate Florina Sauvignon Blanc 2015 ($21). From Greece's Amyndeon region; green kiwi flavors with some brioche notes; balanced, but the finish isn't crisp.
Ouled Thaleb "Signature" Morocco Red Wine 2013 ($23). A blend with marselan, a granache-cabernet sauvignon cross grown mainly in southwestern France, in the lead. Tangy and gamey with good acidity and working well with food.
Ouled Thaleb "Aït Souala" Morocco Red Wine 2012 ($25). A suitably exotic blend of arinarnoa (a tannat-cabernet sauvignon cross), tannat, and malbec; this one's a touch tart with red berry flavors and some savory notes in the finish.
Alpha Estate Florina Red Wine (SMX) 2012 ($31). A Greek syrah-merlot-xinomarro unfiltered blend; fresh-tasting with red fruit forwardness, raspy tannins, and a savory finish.