Vintages - Mediterranean Life: Sun, Sea & Sips

Known for warm sunshine, scenic seaside settings, quaint sidewalk cafés and of course, incredible wines, the Mediterranean is a perfect travel destination. This selection of wines from sunny vineyards in a handful of stops along the Mediterranean coast shows why these wines are so synonymous with summertime sipping.

The Mediterranean slice of France is a place of breathtaking beaches, seaside cafés and bohemian allure.

This is where Cézanne and Zola strolled the charming streets of Aix-en-Provence, Matisse and Chagall found inspiration among the grand esplanades of Nice, and Gauguin and van Gogh shared a house on Place Lamartine in Arles. Driving along the rural roads in summer, you can feast your eyes on bright yellow fields of sunflowers backdropped by purple lavender hills. Culturally speaking, the film festival in Cannes is a household name, but it’s certainly not the region’s only highly anticipated annual event: the Marseille Summer Festival brings together thousands of locals and tourists alike for a spectacular celebration of music, dance, and vibrant night life. While best known for its world-famous rosés, the Mediterranean coast of France is also home to enchanting red and white wines.

Sipping wine or espresso alfresco is a ubiquitous pastime in every  European village, town and city. If you’re lucky enough to cross the pond this summer, act like a local. These cool cafés are hotspots along the Mediterranean.

Not only does Italy feature several mainland wine-growing regions basking in Mediterranean sunshine, it also has two islands in the Mediterranean Sea itself.

Among the mainland regions are Campania, with its stunning hiking trails and waterfalls; and Puglia, home to the Jonian Dolphin Conservation. The island of Sardinia is known for its beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters, medieval Romanesque basilicas, golden sand dunes, soaring mountains, and delicate wetlands teeming with flamboyances of flamingos. On the more southerly island of Sicily stands Mount Etna: the largest active volcano in Europe, along with ancient Phoenician, Greek and Roman archaeological sites. Whether island or mainland, all these regions are also known for sunny yet structured wines that often spotlight local grape varieties and (although they do make fine sippers) are crafted with the dinner table in mind.

Perhaps more than any other, this is the place that comes to mind when we think of Mediterranean history and winemaking.

Greece is home to a plethora of important archaeological sites and landmarks dating from the Bronze Age through the Middle Ages. The rich history along with the gorgeous beaches, turquoise waters, rugged mountains and seaside villages make Greece a tourist’s dream. Each summer, with the floodlit Acropolis as a backdrop, the Hellenic Festival celebrates local and international music, dance and drama. For foodies, there’s the annual Athens Street Food Festival, the Feta Cheese Festival in Elassona, and an annual mushroom festival in the town of Grevena. When it comes to the wines, many are classically styled and best enjoyed with food, but an increasing number are crafted with a modern flair, and the whites and rosés in particular make lovely sippers.

Not all Spanish wine regions border the Mediterranean Sea, but nearly all of them feel its influence.

The portion of Spain that does have Mediterranean coastline also features a thriving arts scene and rustic medieval architecture including a castle once owned by Salvador Dalí. The interior of the country, meanwhile, is home to Upper and Middle Paleolithic architectural finds, medieval fortresses, baroque cathedrals, and countless cultural festivals, including the annual Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. The wines of Spain are as diverse as the geography itself, but many of the reds are crafted using oak barrels, making them excellent accompaniments for barbecue, and are given extended ageing time in barrel and bottle, which allows them to mellow and become well suited for sipping on their own.