Countries
The national basics behind every guide: how labels work, the main grapes, and the words you’ll meet.
- ItalyHundreds of local grapes, named by place - food wines first.Alto Adige · Bolgheri · Chianti Classico · Collio and Goriška Brda · Conegliano-Valdobbiadene · Emilia-Romagna · Etna · Franciacorta · Irpinia & Campania · Langhe & Roero · Lugana & Lake Garda · Marche · Maremma & Morellino di Scansano · Montalcino · Montepulciano (Vino Nobile) · Puglia · Roero, Monferrato & Gavi · Sardinia · Southern & western Sicily · Trentino (incl. Trento DOC) · Umbria · Valpolicella & Soave (Verona)
- FrancePlace names, not grapes - and the grower matters more than the badge.Alsace · Beaujolais · Bergerac, Monbazillac & the Dordogne · Bordeaux · Burgundy · Cahors & the Pyrenean Southwest · Champagne · Jura & Arbois · Languedoc-Roussillon · Loire Valley · Mâconnais & Côte Chalonnaise · Northern Rhône · Provence · Southern Rhône
- SpainTempranillo and Garnacha reds, Atlantic whites, Cava and Sherry - with real value.Bierzo · Canary Islands · Jerez (Sherry) · Mallorca & the Balearics · Navarra · Penedès · Priorat and Montsant · Rías Baixas · Ribeira Sacra · Ribera del Duero · Rioja · Rueda & Toro · Sierra de Gredos & Madrid · Txakoli & the Basque coast
- PortugalNative-grape blends, fortified classics and Europe's best value.Alentejo · Bairrada · Dão · Douro · Lisboa (Colares, Bucelas, Alenquer) · Madeira · Setúbal & Arrábida · Vinho Verde and the Minho
- GermanyCool-climate Riesling first, then Pinot - from feather-light and sweet to bone dry.Baden (Kaiserstuhl, Ortenau) · Franken · Mosel · Nahe · Pfalz · Rheingau · Rheinhessen
- AustriaCrisp, dry, peppery whites and juicy, spicy reds - labelled by region and grape.Burgenland · Styria (Südsteiermark, Vulkanland) · Wachau, Kremstal & Kamptal
- Slovenia & CroatiaTwo small Adriatic wine countries: native whites, dark reds, and orange wines on a very local scale.Dalmatia (Pelješac, Hvar, Korčula) · Istria
- GreeceNative grapes, island whites, northern reds - great value, no fixed rules.
- HungaryFurmint whites and Kékfrankos reds, with Tokaj as the famous face.