From the châteaux of Bordeaux to a landlocked Chinese province, Will Lyons recommends the world’s best regions for winetasting — and where we should be heading next
The top five regions to look out for in 2016
Jura, France
The world is finally waking up to what sommeliers in New York have long known: Jura is one of France’s most interesting regions. Keep an eye out for chardonnay and pinot noir, poulsard and trousseau, and good sparkling wine.
Etna, Sicily
Something exciting is happening on the slopes of Mount Etna: a few producers are making red and white wines that are texturally light, pure and fresh. Buy them before they get more expensive.
The Swartland, South Africa
About 30 miles north of Cape Town lies the Swartland, a hotbed of innovation in recent years. Producers such as Mullineux & Leeu Family and the Sadie Family have won international recognition with their Mediterranean grape varieties. Look out for syrah.
Ningxia, China
You may not have tasted Chinese wine, but the country is now the world’s fifth-largest producer. Central to this is Ningxia, a small province in north-central China. In 2011, a cabernet sauvignon blend by Helan Qing Xue produced here won best red bordeaux varietal over £10 at the Decanter World Wine Awards. The Chinese wine revolution has only just begun.
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Waipara Valley, New Zealand
New Zealand burst onto the global scene in the 1980s and now has more than 700 wineries. Some sensational wine is being produced in the Waipara Valley, a pocket of gravel and clay an hour’s drive from Christchurch. Mountford Estate and Bell Hill are ones to watch.
Buy Will’s mixed wine case and save £67
Will has worked exclusively with the Sunday Times Wine Club to select a superb World Tour case of wines for you to enjoy. Order your case for £95.88, saving £67 on 12 bottles, and read his tasting notes, all at sundaytimeswineclub.co.uk/thedish
The Douro, Portugal
It’s hard to think of a more beautiful wine region than the upper Douro Valley in Portugal. About 75 miles east of Porto, the Douro is a mountainous wilderness ideal for hikers with a thirst for wine. Hop on a train at Porto’s Sao Bento station and sit back as it rolls past vineyards planted on steep, stone-walled terraces. This is port country, the scorching-hot summer producing a sweet, rich fortified wine. But in recent years, as a number of boutique hotels have opened in the valley, many of the port houses have started producing table wines that are really rather good — and a perfect match for the spectacular surroundings.
Taylor’s Chip Dry
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£13.29, Waitrose
White port is one of life’s guilty pleasures. For an uplifting alternative to gin and tonic, pour this over a glass of ice and add some tonic and a sprig of mint.
2014 Altano, Douro White
£9.95, Tanners Wines
Super-fresh, with a distinct lime and mineral character, this is good to stock up on as we move into summer.
