In learning about wine, I’ve always found it helpful to see where the wine comes from. This was especially true in my early twenties when I had only been to a few wine regions. So I developed a habit of cracking open a map when I cracked open a bottle. Georges Roumier Chambolle-Musigny - ah yes, in the Cote de Nuits, in fabled Burgundy; arrive in Paris and head southeast. How about d’Arrenberg McLaren Vale Grenache? That’s down under, in the state of South Australia, fly to Adelaide, hop in the car and head south. You get the picture.
Maps give us a visual to which we can connect our wine notes, thus enhancing our sense of place. Over time, some of the patterns begin to emerge. There’s that acidic nerve of Chardonnay reared in Chablis and the broad palate of Shiraz from South Australia’s Barossa Valley.
This is a new work in progress where public domain maps will be added over time. Follow the category links down the page margin, where each of the wines reviewed on the blog is classed by grape(s) and place(s). Enjoy the exploration!
California
Anderson Valley
Mendocino County
Santa Cruz Mountains
