Turán – A Rare Teinturier Hungarian Variety
Turán is a rare variety hailing from Hungary with distinctive aromas and a deep inky color. This grape is a crossing of other obscure Hungarian varieties created by Dr. József…
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Blauburger Makes a Rare Single-Varietal Appearance
Have you tasted many Hungarian red wines? I’d venture to guess the answer is no. Here’s why—according to Taste of Hungary, 80% of all Hungarian wine exports are white wines.…
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Kadarka – A Rare Hungarian Red for Burgundy Lovers
Hungarian wines have remained somewhat inconspicuous on the international wine market over the past couple of centuries. Of course, the golden-hued, sweet aszú wines of Tokaj, once adored by popes,…
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Maturana Blanca – An Old White Variety Revived in Rioja
Maturana Blanca is one of several varieties saved from near extinction by Viña Ijalba and their partners in Rioja, including the Regulatory Council of D.O.C.a Rioja, the University of Rioja,…
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Lasina – An Unexpected Style From Dalmatia
Croatia is one of the oldest wine producing countries in the world. The country’s winemaking traditions originated in Dalmatia where the Greeks settled in the 5th century B.C., bringing their…
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Piedirosso – Blessed by the Tears of Christ Under Mount Vesuvius
In 79 AD, the massive, destructive eruption of Mount Vesuvius brought tragedy to Campania in Southern Italy. The eruption infamously destroyed and buried Pompeii in volcanic ash, freezing the ancient…
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Tempranillo Blanco – A Rare Mutation Results in Top Wines
Tempranillo Blanco is a relative newcomer to the world of wine. In 1988, a viticulturist discovered a mutation amidst his Tempranillo vineyard that was about to be uprooted in Murillo…
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Maturana Tinta Makes A Comeback from Near Extinction in Rioja
When I started this series on rare varieties, my intentions were twofold. First, I was curious to discover the lesser known varieties of the world. Due to the fact that…
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Graševina – A Grape of Unknown Origins Thrives In Croatia
Though not a common wine on the international scene, Graševina is the most widely planted grape in Croatia. Actually, Graševina claims something like every fifth vine in the country. As…
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Pušipel – A Grape of Many Names
Have you ever heard of Furmint, one of the varieties behind Hungary’s famed Tokaji wines? Well, in Croatia, Furmint is known as Pušipel. Actually, Furmint was called Šipon in Croatia…
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