If you love wine, famous and “big-hitting,” regions often come to mind, such as Bordeaux, Napa Valley, and Tuscany. While deserving of their reputation, there are many overlooked, lesser-known winemakers nestled in quiet corners across the globe who create wines every bit as delectable. To name a few, Puglia in Italy, Croatia, and Portugal’s Douro Valley.
Puglia, located in the heel of Italy’s boot, is most known for its picturesque towns and breathtaking beaches. Due to its warm climate and fertile soil, it is ideal for wine production. Home to a wide variety of grapes, including the popular Primitivo and Negroamaro, the region has cultivated some award-winning blends. Primitivo, similar to Zinfandel, is known for its rich, full-bodied flavors of dark fruit and spice. Negroamaro, on the other hand, is a more rustic wine with earthy flavors consisting of tobacco and leather. Be sure to sample their whites and rosés, which are crisp, refreshing, and bursting with fruit flavors that perfectly complement the region’s seafood-centric cuisine. One of the best ways to taste the wines of Puglia is by visiting a family-run agriturismo where you can sample not only their wine but also their local cheeses, cured meats and vegetables from the garden, and a delicious plate of handmade orecchiette, the signature pasta of Puglia.
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Another lesser-known wine region that is worth exploring is Croatia. Perched along the Adriatic Sea, Croatia offers historic cities, a rugged coastline, and national parks, and it also has a long history of winemaking that dates back to the ancient Greeks. Today, the country produces a wide range of wines, including white wines such as Malvasia and Posip, and formidable reds, including Plavac Mali and Teran. Plavac Mali, grown along the Dalmatian Coast, is a popular grape known for its robust and dense dark fruit and spice flavors, which lends itself to aging particularly well. On the other hand, Teran is fresh, showcasing perfectly balanced acidity and flavors of bright fruit and spice. Many of the wineries in Croatia are found in small towns and villages situated off the beaten path, which makes for a fun and authentic experience.
While in Croatia, visit the underwater winery Edivo Vina, which offers a unique and exciting adventure. On the coast, about an hour north of Dubrovnik, Edivo Vina is a winery that ages its wines in clay jugs underwater on the seabed. They are submerged in cages to protect them from strong currents and other hazards, where the jugs stay for one to two years, depending on the type of wine. The sea provides the perfect environment for the wines to mature, as the waves constant temperature and gentle motion help enhance the flavors and aromas. If you are adventurous, don a diving suit, swim to the seabed, and witness the process first-hand. For those who prefer to stay on land, you can arrange a wine tasting and enjoy a glass while taking in stunning views of the Adriatic Sea.
Finally, the Douro Valley in Portugal is another off-the-radar wine region. The area, spread across northern Portugal, is known for its charming towns, steep hillsides, and stunningly beautiful terraced vineyards. The area is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also the home of Port wine, a popular after-dinner or dessert wine. Port is typically made with the same method as other wines with one essential additional step: adding a distilled spirit, usually, brandy, which stops the fermentation process and fortifies the wine, creating a sweet, intensely flavored high-alcohol wine. In fact, Douro’s winemakers have perfected over fifty types of Port, and it is possible to visit many of the wineries for a tour and tasting, allowing you to learn about the history of Port wine.
The Douro Valley is also home to many vineyards making excellent table wines using varietals such as Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, similar to Tempranillo, and Touriga Franca grapes. Notably known for its full-bodied, dry red wines, the Douro also offers light, bright white, and rosé choices.
In addition to the wine, each region has its unique culture, cuisine, and natural beauty just waiting to be explored, and if you are looking for new and interesting destinations, consider visiting one of these lesser-known wine regions.
If you need help curating your trip to one of these extraordinary wine producing regions, contact The Destination Designer for more details.
