Features

Hidden away in the heart of Croatia, nestled...

Turkey, a country with a rich history and diverse culture, has been gaining recognition in recent years for its burgeoning wine industry. Among the pioneers leading this transformation is Seyit Karagözoğlu, a visionary winemaker, and his renowned winery, Paşaeli Wines. Their story is one of passion, innovation, and a commitment to showcasing the unique terroir of Turkey through exceptional wines.

At that wine dinner in New York, we met Diego Tomasi, the director of the consortium that represents more than 3,000 growers and producers in the DOCG. He spent most of his career as an academic, becoming an expert on the region, and was named director in 2021. We discussed with him how to get consumers to pay more for the DOCG when they are accustomed to lower-priced Prosecco. We followed up with some email questions.

Nestled within the picturesque landscape of the Vayots Dzor region in Armenia, Zorah Winery stands as a testament to the rich history and vibrant resurgence of winemaking in the country. Established in the year 2000 by Zorik Gharibian, an Armenian living in Italy, Zorah Winery has swiftly garnered international recognition for its commitment to producing exceptional wines using indigenous Armenian grape varieties and employing traditional winemaking techniques.

We have been enjoying wine from Oregon for decades, but this was the first time we attended IPNC. It’s an awesome event, and if you are ever able to attend, you should (an all-events ticket for all three days costs about $1,600). We came away from the event – which included seminars, tastings, a traditional salmon bake on Alder spikes and more – with some thoughts based on many conversations and we are going to get right to them.

Torre dei Beati is a winery in Loreto Aprutino, a charming hilltop town in central Italy's Abruzzo region. In 1999, Fausto Albanesi and his wife Adriana inherited a small parcel of family vineyards, sparking a shared passion that changed their lives. At the time, winemaking offered a creative escape from their day jobs, with Fausto employed as an engineer and Adriana as an accountant.

Their journey towards full-time wine production spanned 17 years, and today, Torre dei Beati produces some of Abruzzo's most noteworthy, terroir-reflective wines. The winery's 52 acres of native, organically-farmed grapes are planted between 800 and 1,000 feet above sea level and about 15 miles from the Adriatic...

Armenia, one of the world's oldest wine-producing regions, has a rich winemaking history dating back thousands of years. In recent decades, the country's wine industry has experienced a renaissance, thanks in part to the efforts of passionate individuals like Vahe Keushguerian. As an entrepreneur and advocate for Armenian wine, Keushguerian has played a significant role in revitalizing the country's viticulture and putting Armenian wines back on the global wine map.

Van Ardi Winery is devoted to crafting wines that are a true reflection of Armenia's vinicultural heritage. Among their flagship offerings is wine from the indigenous Areni Noir grape. This red wine exudes an aroma of ripe red fruits and spices, leading to a velvety palate with a balanced structure. Another highlight is Voskehat, an indigenous  white grape, with notes of citrus, apricot, and floral undertones.

Washington is the second-largest wine producer in the U.S. and we’ve been fans for a long time. In our last “Tastings” column for The Wall Street Journal in 2009, we wrote that three of our most delicious wines of the year were from Washington (Syrahs from Dunham, Owen Roe and Gramercy Cellars). So with this question in our minds, we bought a mixed case of Washington wines. We weren’t particular. We just wanted the price to even out below $25, with a case discount.

Tushpa Winery is nestled below the Biblical Mt. Ararat, in Taperakan village at about 800 meters above sea level. The combination of clay and volcanic soils, ample sunshine, and cool mountain breezes creates an ideal environment for growing grapes with exceptional character. The winery has six hectares of vines and primarily cultivates indigenous grape varieties, such as Haghtanak which reflects the distinct terroir of the Ararat Valley.