
Wine Squares
Let’s go, day 12!
We’re back, you know the rules, and if you don’t here they are:
- One box is voted on per day. The current box is bolded
- Please don’t be a fool and comment for a different box or future box, will not count
- Winner is top comment after 24 hours
- We then advance to the next!
Top 2 runner ups will be posted in the next post!
Runner ups:
Most Underrated Wine Region
– Greece
– Loire Valley, France
Most Overrated Wine Region
– Burgundy
– Provence
Most Underrated Wine
– Barbera d’Alba
– Txakoli
Most Overrated Wine
– Meiomi
– Prisoner
Best Grape Variety
– Riesling
– Nebbiolo
Worst Grape Variety
– Muscadine
– Pinotage
Best Wine Label
– Mouton Rothschild
– Emmerich Knoll: Riesling Ried Loibenberg Smaragd
Best Newbie Friendly Wine
– Beaujolais
– Vinho Verde
Best Value Play Wine
– G.D. Vajra Langhe Nebbiolo / Barbera d’Alba
– La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza / Vina Alberdi
Most Consistent Region
– Rioja
– Jerez
Least Consistent Region
– Okanagan Valley
– Eastern Europe / Middle East
by AustraliaWineDude

32 Comments
Mencia and Baga
Marsanne
Furmint – coined in Europe the Riesling of the East.
Xinomavro or frappato
Assyrtiko, I will die on that hill.
Savagnin
Aligote.
It (rightfully) gets overshadowed by Chardonnay, but it makes some truly delicious, unique wines. I’ve recently had wonderful examples from Michel Lafarge, Theo Dancer, and Sylvain Pataille.
It’s tricky – one person’s niche is another’s daily drinker. And the truly niche ones won’t get any votes because almost nobody has tasted them.
Anyway, Encruzado has not been suggested yet.
I suppose niche is in the eye of the beholder, but I’m going with Vermentino for this one.
It’s a delicious citrusy, saline, crispy acidic white. Versatile, you find find super clean racy versions, but it takes a little oak well. Grows well in a lot of regions around the world from Italy & France, Sardinia, Australia, one of my favorites comes from Virginia.
Nerello Mascalase
If bierzo is the most underrated region, then surely godello should be the grape?!
Xinomavro
Ruché
Godello!
Some great quality wines coming out of NV Spain, e.g. Valdeorras or neighbouring Bierzo. Often somewhat fuller than it’s buddy Albariño, but you can find it in many different styles, even with some residual sugar, giving Mosel Kabinett vibes. Some recs:
– Louro do Bolo (Rafael Palacios)
– El Zarzal (Emilio Moro)
– Bodegas visas Somoza, Neno
palomino, both as sherry and table wine. nothing really compares.
Saperavi. Very niche.
Scheurebe
Frappato. When I think niche, I think truly local and tiny volume.
Xarel-lo
Nerello Mascalese
Xinomavro for me!
Arinto dos Açores
Petit verdot.
Carmenere
Hondarribi Zuri
Timorasso 🙌🙌🙌🙌
Pais (mission grapes!)
Aglianico
Carmenere
Chasselas, not niche at all in Switzerland, almost doesn’t exist anywhere else.
Altesse. I know, this is niche of a niche (white Savoie)
Pecorino is about as niche as it gets but finally having a moment