Arriving at the airport in Palma de Mallorca can be overwhelming. Crowds of holiday-makers swarm through long, narrow corridors to carousels where they scrummage to collect bags. Hungry children hassle tired parents and groups of young people loudly debate where to start the evening bar crawl. But...

Matt Walls investigates the influence of altitude on the wines of the Italian Alps.

Germany’s most mythic and misunderstood wine region has always balanced on a knife’s edge. Today is no different. Only the elemental forces have changed. To understand the Mosel requires an appreciation of what animates — and challenges — it. There is a sense of urgency to preserve what has long...

Compared to more famous Italian wine regions, such as Toscana and Piemonte, Calabria is relatively overlooked on the international stage. But in 2025, it received some much-deserved recognition: Cirò Classico was finally promoted to Calabria’s first DOCG. There are several factors that make this...

Calabria, the rugged southern tip of Italy’s boot, is a region where ancient history and modern revival intertwine in compelling ways. Though long overshadowed by more famous Italian wine regions, Calabria possesses one of the most storied viticultural lineages on the peninsula. Over millennia,...

Late afternoon in Nice, almost the golden hour when the Mediterranean turns from cobalt blue to Homer's wine-dark sea. Sitting with a friend at a café, I hold up my glass of rosé to the setting sun. Platinum, not a drop of pink. 'Is this actually rosé? Seems like white wine,' I wonder aloud. 'It's...

Castilla y León is one of Spain’s most significant regions and the cradle of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabel. It boasts more than 60 of Spain’s heritage sites including over 500 castles, 12 cathedrals and eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is also home to Vega Sicilia, one of the...

Olivier Humbrecht MW is one of the most influential winemakers of Alsace. Matt Walls speaks to him about his journey so far, taking in changing styles, biodynamics and the future of the region.

“You always remember Pécharmant,” observes Benoit Borderie of Château Poulvère. “Once you've tried it, you seek it out.” This niche French wine is not quite famous, not entirely secret, but what the French call "confidential."

There are as many ways to explore a place as there are explorers. Far be it from us to turn this article into a definitive list of must-do activities, but rather to share one of the (oh so many!) possible paths to discovering the diverse, rich and varied region of Jura.

Despite being almost exactly between Jura, Savoie, Burgundy and Beaujolais, Bugey remains one of France's most overlooked appellations. Yet this small region, situated in the southern foothills of the Jura mountains offers a compelling range of underrated wines. As we expand our vinous horizons...

Despite its location in the French Alps, Savoie has long been overshadowed by its more famous neighbors. Yet with its distinct grape varieties, alpine terroir and rich viticultural heritage, this niche French region—bordering Switzerland and Italy—offers a taste of all that makes wine captivating.

Lisbon, founded over 3,000 years ago, is one of Europe’s oldest capitals and a historic hub of discovery—from the Age of Exploration to its modern appeal as a haven for digital nomads. Timeless yet vibrant, the city blends old-world charm with a modern edge. Its culture and gastronomy are...

Sicily captivates wine enthusiasts and travellers around the world, an island that in recent years has become famous not just as a holiday destination (White Lotus fans can attest) but also for the growing production of high-quality wines.

This article has been published in partnership with World of Fine Wine and Wine Scholar Guild. Beyond the familiar terrain of fine wine, a new horizon is emerging in the most unexpected of places. As the Bhutan Wine Company releases its first wines—the first ever made in the Himalayan...

This article has been published in partnership with World of Fine Wine and Wine Scholar Guild. A shocking red wine from the Jerezano new wave. Andrew Jefford tastes 2020 Annius Atlántida Vino de la Tierra de Cádiz.

How did that happen? Call it what you want (fashion, peer-group pressure, herd instinct, a historical hangover) but somehow or other Alsace has ended up as France’s most neglected and misunderstood wine region.

Over its 42-year existence as a Denominación de Origen (DO), Ribera del Duero has transformed from a relatively unknown region to one of Spain’s most prestigious wine-producing areas.

Many wine regions in Europe like to reference their long history, typically dating the arrival of the first vineyards back to the time of the Roman legions. Viticulture in Jerez may well have an even longer history than that; it’s entirely possible that the first vines in the region were planted...

A History of innovation There’s a long history of innovation in Bordeaux; introducing topping up and sulphur to produce the ‘New French Claret’ in the 17th century, solving Mildew with the Bordeaux mixture in 1878 to the introduction of stainless steel in the 1960’s, when Château Haut Brion was...