Vogue
12 Underrated Wine Regions
Vogue Magazine has named the Okanagan Valley as one of the world’s most underrated wine regions.
“For every Napa Valley, Bordeaux, or Tuscany, there is an equally enchanting, underrated wine region ready to have its moment,” said Vogue writer Nicole Kliest, who interviewed global wine experts to put the list together.
“Not for lack of quality or appeal, these wine destinations remain lesser-known for a mixture of reasons, from a shortage of international awareness to recent improvements in winemaking practices. Whatever the backstory, however, the draw toward up-and-coming locales is obvious—fewer crowds and plentiful opportunities to bask in the unspoiled nature of somewhere that feels undiscovered … and also, good wine.”
Vogue’s list of the best lesser-known regions included ancient winemaking stalwarts like the sherry regions in Spain; the world’s oldest wine region in Georgia; or the Italian region of Puglia, home to powerful red wines from the Primitivo grape; but it also included recent upstarts like the Okanagan, the Valle de Guadalupe in Mexico’s Baja Peninsula, and Middleburg in Virginia.
Wine expert Allison Luvera was among those casting her vote for the Okanagan, saying the region is marked by spectacular beauty, and equally awe-inspiring wines.
“This region produces world-class wines that are difficult to find outside of Canada—the easiest way to taste them is to travel there,” Luvera says. “It’s a relatively new winemaking area and much of the wine produced here is consumed within Canada, leaving the region unknown to wine lovers in other countries. However, its high caliber wines coupled with the stunning natural beauty of the region have attracted top winemakers from France, New Zealand, and South Africa, so awareness is on the rise.”
