Three Lesser Known Wine Making Countries That Produce Great Wine

By Leo Parker, guest blogger

We all know that some countries have a great reputation for producing high quality wines – we’re looking at you France, Italy and Spain – but it’s fair to say that for every country that has a great reputation for wine production, there is another which doesn’t get the credit it deserves.

We know all about wines from the famous French regions such as Burgundy, Loire and Bordeaux but what about other countries that have been producing delicious wine for years without achieving the same level of recognition as their French counterparts? Let’s take a look at our top three countries that deserve more considering when you want to buy wine.

Austria:
The Austrian mountains may be alive with the sound of music but their vineyards are also alive with glorious wine. Their reputation as a fine winemaker is improving all the time and you should certainly consider Austrian wines the next time you are in your local UK wine shop.  Austria is particularly famed for its dry, white wines and, predominantly, its Riesling. Austria’s wine reputation has certainly grown impressively over the last few years.

Argentina:South America has a growing reputation for purveyors of fine wines and none more so than Argentina. The main catalyst for the explosion in popularity ofArgentinian wine is their Malbec wine.

If you’re looking for a wine region to try and want to give your palate something new, then try the abundance of first rate wines stemming from Argentina.

Portugal:
Another European entrant in our list and another which isn’t receiving the recognition it deserves (particularly as it’s the birthplace of port) for producing high quality wines. If you’re a fan of dry white wines, then Portugal will definitely boast a drop that fits the bill.

Portuguese wine will certainly continue to grow in popularity as more and more consumers become aware of their charms.

So, there you have it – if you want to expand your wine palate and try some wines that didn’t originate in France or Spain, then why not consider some of the territories listed above?

Which other lesser known regions would you recommend?

Leo is a food and wine blogger who has a particular love of wines from France and will usually be found in his nearest UK wine merchants checking out their selection of wines from all over the world.