Asia

China--red

China's impact on the world of wine has been nothing short of remarkable in the past 20 years. From a country that seemed disinterested to one of the biggest consumers AND producers in just a few short decades. Remarkable. Wine had always sat behind the local baiju, a fermented sorghum spirit (actually the biggest selling liquor in the world) that has historical links in China dating back over 2000 years. Serious investment from large French wineries, mostly in Bordeaux, has propelled the quality of wine forward quickly, and China is poised to become a wine superpower in the coming decades.

Grapes - Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot

Japan--aromatic

With a long history of wine production (over 1200 years), the world is only recently getting a taste of Japanese wine. As little as 0.5% of all Japanese wine produced each year is actually exported! Starting with larger companies, this is slowly changing. Wine is highly appreciated in Japan, sitting equal with the better known nihonshu (sake) The main region for production is the Yamanashi prefecture, due west of Tokyo, although there are vineyards in most regions across the country. Grapes are a mix of local varieties, hybrids and some bigger name internationals.

Grapes - Koshu (white) and Muscat Bailey A (red)