Which country would you say produces the best wine?

Throughout history, not taking into consideration price or availability, I think most people would agree that France has always been the top dog in that category.

"That's totally a personal preference," says Dave Cedrone a wine consultant who offers private tasting, basic wine education, etiquette classes, and buying services for the restaurant industry.

"Throughout history, not taking into consideration price or availability, I think most people would agree that France has always been the top dog in that category."

But France isn't the country that Cedrone recognizes as producing his preferred wines.

"My personal favorite region happens to be Italy, but that doesn't mean that there aren't wines from other regions and countries that are far better than the same in Italy."
He notes that your preference of country might depend on the actual variety of wine that you prefer.

"Different regions do have some common associations with them. New Zealand is pretty well known for Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc. Italy is known for their Chianti and Barolo and so it's difficult to say which one produces the best."

France of course, is famous for its Champagne, the bubbly white wine associated with celebrations worldwide.
Greece's claim to fame in the wine industry is the ancient Retsina, a white variety flavored with pine pitch.

In Ireland, Meade is a popular choice for lovers. Legend has it the honey-based wine is an effective aphrodisiac and may have helped name coin term 'honeymoon' because couples would consume the wine following their nuptials.

In recent years, Austria has increased its wine reputation with consistently well-ranked Rieslings.

And Portugal, home of the well-known Port dessert wines, is also respected for its Madeira, made from vineyards that exist on volcanic hills.

But not all of the most popular international wines come from Europe.

Australia is rapidly gaining recognition for its Shiraz, which grapes came to the country in 1832. The experts at Wine Australia proudly note that "No other grape has such a uniquely Australian character. Try to copy they might but the rest of the world's winemakers will never capture that mulberry, spicy, slightly 'wild' flavour that can only be Australia's own."

And what would a traditional Japanese meal be without the accompaniment of Sake? This rice-based wine is extremely popular not only in Asia, but around the world.

Finally, Canada is the world's largest producer of Icewine, an expensive, sweet variety that gets its name from how it is made,through a process of freezing and thawing grapes.
Of course food plays a role in the popularity of wines around the world too. Most varieties that are popular to a specific area complement the cuisine of the region.

In addition to taste, there is also a misconception that the best wines are always expensive.

Cedrone explains "Some of the best values, the best wines for the least amount of money, are coming from relatively unknown regions and that's what most people steer away from in a wine store. Spain, Chile, and South Africa have some of the best values."

Wine sellers will often promote varieties from better-known countries, which might skew the customer's decision.
Cedrone warns "Sometimes you find that the wines of Italy and France are overpriced just because of their reputation."

Ultimately, there is not just one country that produces the absolute finest wines in the world. Individual decisions should be made by value, variety, year (in some cases) and above all else, personal preference.


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