When you go shopping for wine, you will most likely come across a number of well-known bottles as well as a few unknown varieties. It’s good to remember that some types of wine are more readily available than others. They are produced in larger quantities which means that more bottles are produced. There are also some types of wine that are so rare that there are only a select number of bottles in circulation and this also pushes the price up.
Greek wines
Assyrtiko, Malagouzia, and Agiorgitiko are three types of Greek wine that are particularly rare. Assyrtiko comes from Santorini and some of these plantations are more than 70 years old. It’s a beautifully refreshing white wine that is incredibly satisfying. Malagouzia wine is from western Greece and it was not made for many years, until recently. The complex nature of this wine has citrus and exotic fruit notes. These grapes are often blended with Assyrtiko for an even more impressive blend. Agiorgitiko is a lovely, low acidity red wine loved for its spicy hints. These grapes can be used for making bold red wines and even rosés.
French wines
France is another nation known for producing some of the finest wines. Picpoul grapes come in three varieties, namely: Picpoul Gris, Picpoul Noir, and Picpoul Blanc. The Picpoul Blanc, unfortunately, is not as widely cultivated as it once was and it’s all but extinct. Other lovely grapes include Valdiguié and Romorantin. Both of which are also difficult to come by. So, if you find wine produced from either of these grapes, you can be sure that it will be a very rewarding experience!
Spanish wines
The climate in Spain is just one reason why this nation is able to produce such phenomenal wines. If you are looking for rare grapes, you need to look for Mencia or Gorgollasa grapes. Mencia grapes were not all that popular until the 1990s since they are difficult to cultivate. Gorgollasa grapes produce a dry wine that is best made in larger batches but this was not authorized until 2011.
Some other examples of rarer grapes include North America’s White Zinfandel and South America’s Torrontés, Bonarda, and Carmenère grapes. Remember, some grapes are not rare around the world. They might be rare in most parts of the world apart from a particular country or region. So, if you plan on visiting a reason that produces such a wine, make sure that you pick up at least one bottle!