By Travis Fuller, Pernod Ricard
Wine is unique in its ability to capture and express a sense of place. A single glass of wine can transport wine lovers across the world without ever leaving their seat through the distinct characteristics of terroir distilled into a glass.
Terroir is fundamentally the most important aspect of winemaking. Creating wines that are a unique and authentic in their expression of soil, weather, region, roots and home is a remarkable feat and is something that our winemakers from across the world pride themselves on.
As the wine business of Pernod Ricard, we offer a portfolio of the highest quality wines to the world. The wines we’ll be showcasing at the Wine Media Conference represent some of the world’s most iconic wine regions, famous for expressing characterful wines that tell a story of their place; whether that be the region or rows from which they are sourced.
France: Champagne
Founded in 1811 in Epernay, Maison Perrier-Jouët is one of France’s most historic champagne houses, but also one of its most distinctive, renowned for its floral and intricate champagnes which reveal the true essence of the Chardonnay grape. With 36 Ha of the best Grand Cru Chardonnay blocks of the Cote des Blancs this varietal shines amongst the classic Champagne blend including Pinot Noir and Pinot Munier.
Spain: Rioja & Rioja Alavesa
Campo Viejo is located in the heart of the Rioja region in Spain. The trio of female winemakers; Elena Adell, Clara Canals and Irene Perez are committed to preserving the Rioja wine landscape for generations to come. In 2012 Campo Viejo became the first Spanish winery to be certified as carbon neutral, leading the country’s wine industry towards a more sustainable future. Sourcing fruit from across Riojas three diverse climes, the winemakers can craft wines that are a reflection of the broader terroir. The small sub region of Rioja Alavesa is nestled at the foot of the Sierra Cantabria, with its higher altitude and chalky clay-limestone producing fine and poised wines.
United States: Sonoma
Sonoma’s wild nature surrounds Kenwood Vineyards with its unique geography and diverse microclimates. Situated between two key mountain systems with the influence of the Pacific Ocean to the west, the richness of the appellation is truly like no other.
New Zealand: Marlborough & Hawkes Bay
With the Pacific Ocean to the east and towering mountain ranges to the north and south, New Zealand’s Marlborough region is cool-climate, but always sunny. Brancott Estate is a pioneer of the region, planting the first Sauvignon Blanc grapes here in 1975. Today, Chief Winemaker Patrick Materman focuses closely on the selecting the best rows to show unique and diverse characters.
A little further north is Hawke’s Bay – a coastal region with fertile soils and a warm, temperate climate Home to Church Road, Hawke’s Bay is New Zealand’s oldest wine region and famous for full-bodied reds and rich, complex Chardonnays.
Australia: Barossa
South Australia’s Barossa is one of the country’s most celebrated wine regions and home to Jacob’s Creek and St Hugo. Both wineries are rooted in 170 years of winemaking tradition, which began when Johann Gramp planted his first vineyard on the banks of Jacob’s Creek in 1847. Barossa offers a tapestry of soils and micro-climates; from the arid, cool-climate of Eden Valley, to the colonial, 170-year old vines of Barossa Valley.
Join Travis in tasting some incredible wines of these regions on a Journey Through Unique Terroir on Friday 11th October at 1:15 – 2:15 PM. Click here to view the complete tasting notes from Travis’ presentation.