The Roussillon is the southernmost wine region in France. It stretches along the Mediterranean coast from Port Barcarès to the Pyrenees and is surrounded by three mountain ranges: Corbières in the north, Canigou in the west and south Albères. As part of the combining region of Languedoc-Roussillon region which corresponds roughly to the geography department Pyrénées-Orientales, bordering on the north by the department of Aude, on the west by the department of Ariege and Andorra and the south of Spain.

The name goes back to the medieval Roussillon county Rosselló, the former capital of Perpignan and today is the administrative seat of the department. Rosselló was next Vallespir, Conflent, Capcir, Alta Cerdanya and Fenouillèdes one of six historic districts nordkatalanischen (comarques)
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That in the remote continent unique species like the platypus and the kangaroo are located, know European Formation of citizens. That thrive there, as well as excellent wines and not just bulk products, this country is still almost a secret. Astonished, the European wine world in the eighties had to acknowledge that as an Australian Red (Grange) could manage to gather the elite of the Bordeaux wine-tasting area in comparison to beat on its own territory.
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Varietals — wines made entirely or mostly from the single grape variety named on the front label — are the most prominent type of American wine. Most of the great American wines are varietals, and a growing number of wines made from Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir are challenging their European models on sheer quality.

Wine book club ratings for the very best Cabernets match those for the best Bordeaux. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir may not quite match the very best Burgundies, but dollar for dollar they compare favorably. One of the hottest categories is Zinfandel, which in the 1990s came into its own as a profoundly distinctive red wine. There is no European counterpart. Cult favorites made from Syrah, Sangiovese and Viognier are beginning to penetrate the mainstream.
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Château Cos d’Estournel 1985 (92, $55 in 1994) has the velvety feel of maturity and smoky, tobacco-like notes that are typical of this château’s wines. At the center is a solid core of currant fruit, and that carries the day with the pork and rhubarb. The food points up a slight bitter edge to the wine, but that only lasts a moment and then the rest of the flavors find a welcome balance.

Suppleness of texture seems to be the prime requirement for a wine to go with this dish. An elegant Pommard 1990 and a smooth California Pinot Noir 1992 also paired up nicely in our tastings, but sturdier wines fared less well. The modest level of sweetness in the dish brought out a tough edge in a Zinfandel 1992, a Ribera del Duero 1990 and even a more mature Salice Salentino Riserva 1988.
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Spain has always been proud of its national traditions, and its wineries have staunchly resisted the international style of oaky Chardonnays and tannic Cabernets. This Mediterranean country’s top wines continue to be made with native grape varieties in traditional styles. They reward exploration by adventurous wine drinkers.

The most successful wines in every price category are red, primarily those made from the Tempranillo grape, which dominates the regions of Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Navarra and Toro. Cabernet Sauvignon has begun to make an appearance, often blended with Tempranillo, while obscure local grape varieties contribute to the distinctive character of wines from Penedès, Priorato and Somontano. Spain’s wine laws are similar to those of the French appellation system, with the best vineyard regions delimited and regulated.
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Germany produces a compelling variety of mostly white wines from 13 wine-growing regions (including two from the former East Germany). Selecting a German wine appears to be a daunting task, due to the large number of types and styles, and confusion resulting from label nomenclature. By using a few basic guidelines, selecting a German wine is not difficult, given the generally high quality standards most producers uphold. The key factors are finding the appropriate style(s) for your taste and producers you can depend upon.
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Following a change in government in 1994 and an aggressive policy of expanding exports and improving the quality of wine production, South Africa continues to grow as a solid source for wine, reasonably priced and world-class. Although there are still few entries in the latter category, the country shouldn’t be overlooked as a serious wine producer, especially since it often offers more quality in the bottle than many other countries’ wines at the same price levels, particularly those from Australia and South America.

Most of the country’s quality vineyards are located in or near the seaside city of Cape Town, benefiting from the cooling influence of the maritime climate. The best regions for making wine are Constantia, Paarl, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and Walker Bay.
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Australia made its reputation with American wine drinkers on a raft of good-value wines, especially Chardonnay that cost less than $10. Every year, however, a larger number of small-production, hand-crafted, highly individual wines are reaching our shores from across the Pacific. Many of these wines cost $20 to $30 and more. Many of them are gems waiting to be discovered.

The Australian wine industry has worked hard to satisfy a market of Aussies who like to drink wine and prefer to spend as little as possible on it. The past decade has seen an explosion of interest within Australia in wines that Americans like, too: Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. These two types, plus Australia’s red wine specialty, Shiraz, make up the bulk of Down Under exports to the United States. Riesling is big in Australia itself, where it has long been the quaffing white wine of choice, but few brands bother to export the stuff in this direction.
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Italy is on the move. With its propitious climate and huge areas of vineyard, the country always held promise. But too many cheap and rustic bottlings kept Italy from fulfilling its potential as an Eden of wine. In recent years, however, a real desire to create wines of high quality, backed by investments in technology and advances in vineyard husbandry, has swept the country like a tidal wave.

Now the results are here for everyone to see. In Tuscany, the so-called “super Tuscan” wines can be a revelation, especially top blends of Cabernet and Sangiovese, but also straight varietals such as Sangiovese, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and even an occasional Pinot Noir.
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Rotling known grape but not a pre-finished wine. For this purpose, white and red grapes, or their mash together crushed. The wine is pale to bright red in color and resembles the rose wine, with whom he is often mistakenly confused or equated. To prepare the Rotling no specific varieties are given. Already extended ready wines may not be mixed. Also Perl and sparkling wines may carry the designation Rotling if they consist of production of these special wines.
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