WINES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Wines from other countries, discovers through the world. Original terroirs and
exotic tasts to try from now !

World wines bring together vineyards from outside France and its appellation system. Italy, Spain, Morocco and Lebanon make up the core of this selection, each with its own distinctive wine identity, often little known beyond its borders.

A gateway to different winemaking traditions

Unlike France, where the wine industry is structured around a highly codified appellation system, these countries have their own traditions, some of which are even older than French winemaking, but organised according to very different principles. Italy, with its DOC and DOCG system, has built its wine regions around native grape varieties such as Nebbiolo and Sangiovese. Spain, the world's second-largest vineyard area, produces everything from concentrated reds to distinctive flor-aged wines. Morocco, whose modern wine industry was strongly influenced by the French colonial period, grows French grape varieties in a warmer Mediterranean climate. Each of these countries offers a wine culture worth exploring in its own right, with more detail available on its dedicated page.

Lebanon, one of the world's oldest wine regions

Less commonly found on French shelves than wines from its Mediterranean neighbours, Lebanese wine production is centred around the Bekaa Valley, at elevations of more than 1,000 metres. This altitude helps moderate an otherwise very warm climate and preserves freshness in the grapes. Lebanon's winemaking tradition dates back to the Phoenicians, who were already exporting wine around the Mediterranean several thousand years ago, making the country one of the historic cradles of viticulture. Modern production began to take shape in the 19th century around estates such as Château Ksara, founded by Jesuit priests, before producers such as Château Musar brought Lebanese wine international recognition. Their approach draws inspiration from Bordeaux winemaking while retaining a distinctive regional blend of grape varieties, with Cinsault and Obeideh alongside Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache.

A constantly evolving global wine landscape

The hierarchy of the world's major wine-producing countries is far from set in stone. In 1976, at the famous blind tasting known as the Judgment of Paris, Californian wines from Napa Valley surprised a panel of experts by outperforming prestigious Bordeaux and Burgundy wines, a symbolic turning point that transformed perceptions of vineyards outside Europe. More recently, China has challenged established rankings: driven by rapidly growing domestic consumption, it overtook Spain in vineyard area to become the world's largest vineyard, although its production still remains well behind the historic wine-producing countries in terms of commercial volumes and international recognition for quality. This constantly changing landscape is a reminder that the countries featured in this selection, led by Italy and Spain, represent only one part of a much broader and evolving world of wine.

A wide variety of styles depending on the country of origin

What truly sets this selection apart is that there is no single style shared by the countries represented. An Italian Nebbiolo red wine has little in common with a Moroccan Cinsault or a barrel-aged Lebanese red made in a Bordeaux-inspired style. The same applies to white wines, from the freshness of a northern Italian white to the richness of a Lebanese white blended from local grape varieties such as Merwah. This diversity makes the selection particularly appealing to anyone looking to venture beyond the familiar reference points of French wine without necessarily focusing on one particular region.

How to explore world wines

As a starting point, it makes more sense to choose a country according to the style of wine you are looking for rather than geographical curiosity alone: Italy for tannic, age-worthy reds or light sparkling wines, Spain for generous reds or vibrant whites, Morocco for supple, spicy reds that pair well with richly seasoned dishes, and Lebanon for a rarer discovery combining ancient winemaking traditions with modern techniques.