The French are world renowned as great winemakers. They have given us the system of geographical wine classification on which every other system is modeled and world famous Bordeaux. But there are plenty of amazing wines to explore outside of Bordeaux too. This gift pack gives you a taste of Sancerre from Loire, Riesling from Alsace, and Syrah from the RhÃe. Sancerre, which is always made from Sauvignon Blanc, has a vast following in recent years because its minerality, coupled with crisp acidity, makes it a perfect food wine. Chilly Alsace has long been famous for its Rieslings, which are dry, floral and flinty (but not sweet as many people think). The RhÃe region is well known for using Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah grapes, which are the three main varieties that go into long-aging ChÃeauneuf-du-Pape M. Chapoutier's Les Granits Syrah, a deep dark wine, comes from St. Joseph in the Northern RhÃe.

Learn more about France's wine regions with this gift pack and enclosed video.

Bordeaux is the best-known wine region in the world. With famous first growths such as ChÃeau Haut Brion starting at over $1,000 a bottle, Bordeaux wines are also some of the priciest to acquire, scaring many people away from trying Bordeaux. But this region also offers affordable yet complex wines for much more reasonable prices. This wine pack lets you taste two of them. Five types of grapes are allowed in red Bordeaux wines . Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. Wines from the left bank of Bordeaux tend to be Cabernet Sauvignon based blends. The Xavier Flouret blend is an example of this. The Cabernet offers tannin structure that allow these wines to age beautifully for 5 to 10 years and more. Right bank Bordeaux blends tend to be Merlot based, which gives them a lush mouthfeel. ChÃeau Tour Simard from St. Ãilion is one good example of this.

Learn more about Bordeaux with this gift pack and enclosed video.

Te Awa is a family-run vineyard, located in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand's oldest and best-known wine region. Te Awa.s winemaker, Jenny Dobson, trained in France and adds Bordeaux flair to her Boundary blend.

Just like the Lord of the Rings movies made New Zealand.s beautiful landscapes famous, Sauvignon Blanc is making New Zealand.s wines famous. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc usually takes on characteristic gooseberry and grassy/herbacious scents. These unique qualities are best expressed in Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs, which have gained world-renown. Torlesse Sauvignon Blanc is from Waipara, where the climate is very similar to that of Marlborough.

Learn more about New Zealand and how it differs from Australia in the enclosed Around the World in 80 Sips. video.

THIS GIFT PACK DOES NOT SHIP TO FL, NJ

With over 1000 native grape varieties, Italy provides the world market with a diverse selection of fine wine. It can be overwhelming to navigate between the Trebbianos, Nebbiolos and Cerasuolos. But fear not -- Italian wines are in fact some of the easiest to love, especially with food. Try a lively Barbera with Pasta Bolognese, Malvasia with sushi, or bubbly Prosecco with rich Brie.

Listen in as Master Sommelier Laura DePasquale discusses Italian wines on the enclosed video.

Includes:

La Tordera Prosecco

Cascina Adelaide Barbera

Villa Martina Cabernet Franc

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One of the finest wine-producing regions in Spain, Rioja is known for its vanilla and oak flavors. Tempranillo forms the backbone of red Rioja, while Viura makes up 95% of white Rioja. With high acid content and medium body, Rioja is very food friendly. Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva are three terms that commonly appear on Rioja labels. Crianza indicates that the wine has been aged for two years, with at least six months in an oak barrel. Reserva has been aged for three years and Gran Reserva for five. Enjoy these two wines while you learn about Rioja in the enclosed video.

Includes:

Luis Alegre Crianza 2004

Xavier Flouret Fe Rijoa Reserva 2001

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Seven Sisters is an up-and-coming winery in South Africa. The seven Brutus sisters and their baby brother were evicted from their home on the western coast of South Africa at a very early age due to apartheid. They yearned to return, but did not have a chance to until twenty years later. Finally reunited, the sisters founded the Seven Sisters winery. They created delicious wines matched to each sister's personality to celebrate their bond and devotion to one another, a fitting tribute to sisterhood indeed.

Includes:

Seven Sisters Pintoage

Seven Sisters Chein Blanc

In this beautiful country that some call a thousand worlds in one, you can find many different landscapes juxtaposed. It was among the extreme biodiversity that Simon van der Stel, Commander of the Dutch Colony at the Cape of Good Hope, planted his first vines in the fertile soil of the Cape. With sloping hills and ocean breezes, the growing conditions were near perfect. Although politics negatively impacted winemaking here, the end of apartheid marked its revival in a country that has been producing wine for over 400 years.

Learn more about South Africa.s fascinating history and wines with this gift pack and enclosed video.

Includes:

Seven Sister Merlot

Bouwland Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot

THIS GIFT PACK DOES NOT SHIP TO FL,IL,NJ