Europe’s great wine regions. Told by the families who shaped them.

Told by the Guigal family

Vines have grown in the Rhône since Roman times. Marcel Guigal and his son Philippe, known as “the masters of the Northern Rhône,” tell the story of Syrah, born in Côte-Rôtie, of Viognier, and of the remarkable terroirs along the river.

“I’ve never seen a producer so fanatical about quality as Marcel Guigal.”Robert Parker

Told by the Bourgeois family

In the Loire Valley, the “Garden of France,” lies Sancerre, the birthplace of Sauvignon Blanc. After 10 generations, the Bourgeois family knows that Sancerre is Sauvignon Blanc at its best, and that it is still evolving.

“I think that is a good definition of what makes a great wine: wines made with love.”Tim Atkin MW

Told by the de Boüard de Laforest family

Bordeaux makes some of the most sought-after wines in the world. Near the historic town of Saint-Émilion stands Château Angélus, where the eighth generation of the family crafts Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon into Right Bank icons.

“Hubert de Boüard de Laforest is a real superstar. It’s not a surprise that he is highly sought after as a wine consultant.”Jeannie Cho Lee MW

Told by the Drouhin family

Since 1880, the Drouhins have made wine in the heart of Beaune. In a region of countless small plots and some of the world’s most prestigious wines, winemaker Véronique Drouhin and her family keep their feet firmly on the ground.

“I say Burgundy is easy: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir…”Frédéric Drouhin

Told by the Trimbach family

Since 1626, 13 generations of Trimbachs have devoted themselves to Alsace. The family shares its history and the stories of Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Gris, and why Pierre Trimbach is revered as a grand vigneron.

“The Alsace is undervalued and underappreciated.”Tim Atkin MW

Told by the Gaja family

Barolo and Barbaresco are two of the wines most coveted by collectors. The villages lie close together and both wines are made from Nebbiolo, yet some say Barolo is more masculine and Barbaresco more feminine.

“Barolo is a gentleman and Barbaresco is a lady, but a ‘tough’ lady.”Gaia Gaja

Told by the Mastroberardino family

The Romans called it Campania Felix, the happy land. Mastroberardino was the only producer who kept faith in the native Aglianico of Taurasi. Some call these archaeological wines; others call Taurasi the Barolo of the South.

“Barolo should be called the Aglianico of the North because it’s longer around.”Burton Anderson

Told by the Antinori family

The renaissance of Italian wine began in Tuscany, with Sangiovese. Marchese Piero Antinori was one of the first to make high-quality Chianti Classico and introduced the first Super Tuscan, at one of the oldest family companies in the world.

“It takes centuries to build a name and seconds to destroy it.”Alessia Antinori, 26th generation

Told by the Boscaini family of Masi

Amarone della Valpolicella was invented by mistake. Its secret is appassimento: grapes dried on bamboo racks for months to make rich, concentrated wines. Discover how a happy accident became one of Italy’s most distinctive wines.

“My grandfather had Valpolicella as a bottle of everyday wine and Amarone for Christmas, and was in need of a wine for the Sundays. So he invented the Ripasso.”Raffaele Boscaini

Told by the Tasca d’Almerita family

The Regaleali Estate in the heart of Sicily is like an oasis in the desert. Here the noble Tasca d’Almerita family made the first prestigious Nero d’Avola, and today Alberto Tasca sees himself as the land’s temporary keeper.

“You have to be a fatalist to grow wines on Etna.”Luigi Tasca

Told by the Torres family

Climate change and rediscovered grapes. The Torres family is moving vineyards to higher altitudes to stay ahead of a warming climate, and has spent years reviving more than 50 ancestral Catalan varieties that now make outstanding wines.

“Spain has to be on every wine list in the world, always.”Miguel A. Torres

Told by Álvaro Palacios

Priorat once made Spain’s finest wines, until phylloxera and war left its vineyards abandoned. Then a young pioneer turned his back on the family winery and set out to make great wine on these steep, forgotten slopes.

“I was the apple of my father’s eye, and then I left. So, I can imagine it was not nice for him.”Álvaro Palacios

Told by Fermín Hidalgo

Sherry fell victim to its own success with the export of sweet styles. The Hidalgo family has always championed dry sherry, above all Manzanilla, which they call the driest wine in the world, and a sommelier favorite.

“Sherry is everything. It can be an aperitif and it can finish a meal and do everything in between. But above all, it is a wine.”Christy Canterbury MW

Told by the Muga family

Oak barrels and Tempranillo. At Muga, every step of fermentation happens in wood, and wines are still fined with egg whites. Discover how this family combines new techniques with a deeply traditional approach.

“The average quality of Rioja is much stronger than the average quality of Bordeaux in my opinion.”Tim Atkin MW

Told by the Mareque Bueno family of Pazo Señorans

In Rías Baixas, everyone seems to grow vines in the backyard, especially Albariño. As pioneers of the region, the family behind Pazo Señorans helped create its appellation, and Albariño is now celebrated as Spain’s finest white.

Told by the Loosen family

When you say Mosel, you say Riesling: from honey-sweet Trockenbeerenauslese to bone-dry Grosses Gewächs. Ernst “Erni” Loosen restored the reputation of the Mosel, and of Riesling itself, and became one of the world’s most influential winemakers.

“For me personally what defines Germany is thrilling, bone dry Riesling that is for adults only.”Anne Krebiehl MW

Told by the Heger family

Weissburgunder, Grauburgunder, Spätburgunder: Germany’s Pinot family thrives on the volcanic terraces of the Kaiserstuhl. Joachim Heger fights to save the traditional Sylvaner, but will his two daughters, the fourth generation, follow his advice?

Told by the Kracher family

Around the shallow lakes of Burgenland, noble rot creates some of the world’s most stunning sweet wines. Gerhard Kracher learned his craft at a very young age while his father was terminally ill, and now also makes acclaimed Blaufränkisch.

“Dessert wines are not there to be drunk with dessert, they are to be drunk instead of dessert.”Stuart Pigott

Told by Franz Hirtzberger

Three generations of Franz Hirtzberger put the Wachau on the quality wine map with Grüner Veltliner and Riesling built to age for decades. But when both sons want to be the winemaker, how does a father choose?

Told by the Perrin family

The wine of the popes, and Beaucastel as its benchmark. When Jacques Perrin died suddenly, two brothers who barely knew each other had to take over. Now every child and grandchild may join the company. Will it work?

Told by the Duboeuf family

The Pope, the King and the Godfather of Beaujolais: Georges Duboeuf turned Beaujolais Nouveau into a worldwide celebration, putting crus like Fleurie, Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent in the spotlight. His grandson Adrien now carries on the legacy.

Told by the Péters family

Champagne’s base wine was once almost undrinkable; it took bubbles and dosage to make it great. After years of being exploited by the big houses, Pierre Péters became one of the first growers to make his own Champagne.

Told by the Peyraud family of Domaine Tempier

Beyond pale rosé: a pre-phylloxera bottle of Bandol inspired Lucien and Lulu Peyraud to revive the region’s Mourvèdre-led wines. Lulu welcomed wine lovers until she was nearly 100; today Daniel Ravier bridges the generations.

“Bandol rosé should be cellared at least 5 years before drinking.”Daniel Ravier

Told by the Cerdeira family

Known worldwide as a light, lightly sparkling white to drink young, Vinho Verde can rival famous Chardonnays and Rieslings. The pioneering Cerdeira family was the first to plant entire plots of Alvarinho and Loureiro.

“We have the word ‘vinho’ in the DOC name, and Vinho Verde also means the style of wine. It’s fantastic!”António Luís Cerdeira

Told by the Symington family

Port is central heating for adults: rich, sweet, comforting and reassuring. Of all the British families that entered the Port trade, the Symingtons are one of the few still in Porto, and Charles Symington oversees an extraordinary range of wines.

“There is no wine in the world that can age as long as Port.”Robert Symington

Told by the Niepoort family

The table wine revolution. Dirk Niepoort turned his family’s small Port house into one of Portugal’s most successful wine companies, and has now handed the reins to his son Daniel, who shares his quirky, creative streak.

“How can you steal the good grapes for Port to make something not so good, like wine?”Dirk Niepoort’s father

Told by the Reynolds family of Mouchão

Until recently, Mouchão had no electricity, so it kept ancient traditions like foot-treading, and its wines turned out to have the best aging potential in the world. Lost in the Carnation Revolution and later regained, the estate now searches for its next generation.