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EAT DRINK The Terra Madre Winery, Komarna Appellation, Dalmatia
OFF THE VINE
In With the NEW
Bored with the same old wines? Looking for a new flavor profile? Then it time to investigate these emerging wine regions now available in the U.S.
By Mark Spivak ARMENIA Probably the oldest wine-producing region on the planet, Armenia is the site of wineries dating to 4,000 B.C. Wine cultivation has experienced a renaissance since Armenian independence in 1991, and the country is once again a star in the Caucasus region. Storica Wines (storicawines.com), an import compaZulal is one of Armenia’s premier wine labels
ny focused on marketing, production, and direct-to-consumer sales, has spearheaded distribution. It has partnered with visionaries such as Syrian-born, Italian-trained Vahe Keushguerian, who repatriated to Armenia and founded WineWorks, a consulting firm and “winery incubator.” Varieties such as Voskehat and Khatouni may not be household names, but the wine is delicious. Properties to watch: Keushguerian’s label, Keush, specializes in sparkling wines such as Origins ($21) and Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut ($31); his daughter Aimee’s label, Zulal, offers an Areni Noir ($19) and Areni Reserve ($30).
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CROATIA
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With 130 indigenous grape varieties, 300 wine regions, and a history nearly as long as Armenia’s, Croatia has much to offer wine drinkers—and those in the U.S. are beginning to discover it thanks to importers such as Croatian Premium Wine (croatianpremiumwine.com).
Quality has been steadily improving since the country emerged from Yugoslavia’s communist regime. While much of the output is white, the country claims to be the birthplace of the Zinfandel grape, known locally as Plavac Mali. Major cultivation areas include the eastern and western continental regions, as well as Dalmatia and Istria. Top estates: Fans of California wine will be familiar with Grgi Vina, which legendary winemaker Miljenko “Mike” Grgich of Napa’s Grgich Hills established in 1996. Other labels to seek out include Terra Madre, Duboković, Bibich, Stina, Korta Katarina, Milo,š and the Meneghetti Winery. BAJA CALIFORNIA More than 150 wineries are situated within two hours of the San Ysidro border crossing, primarily along the Ruta del Vino in the Guadalupe Valley. The valley has a Mediterranean climate, thanks to sea breezes coming inland
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