Top 100 wines of Meknès - Page 2
Discover the top 100 best wines of Meknès as well as the best winemakers in the region. Explore the varietals of the wines that are popular of Meknès and the best vintages to taste in this region.
Discovering the wine region of Meknès
Morocco, located in Northwestern North Africa, is an ancient kingdom whose history is as diverse as its geography. Influenced over the centuries by Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs and various modern European powers, it remains a bridge between Europe and the African continent. The Atlas Mountains, which run through the country, are all that separate the vast Sahara Desert from the cool expanses of the Atlantic. Similarly, the 16 km Strait of Gibraltar, which separates Morocco from Spain, is all that separates Islamic North Africa from Christian Southern Europe.
It was almost inevitable that a former colony of Rome and France would produce wine at some point in its history. Although the earliest evidence of Moroccan viticulture predates the Romans, it is likely that they were the first to produce wine on some scale.
After the fall of Rome, Morocco experienced centuries of Islamic rule, which naturally slowed its production of Alcohol, including wine. But interest was revived when the French increased their influence from the 1830s onwards.
In the early 20th century, Europe was sinking into world war, and Morocco also became a target for Britain and Germany. The French prevailed and established a protectorate in 1912 under the terms of the Treaty of Fez. Spain was also granted areas of interest in the north and south of the country.
Under French influence, Morocco began to make a significant contribution to the world wine industry.
News from the vineyard of Meknès
Group of winegrowers seeks UNESCO recognition for ungrafted vines
The Francs de Pied (Ungrafted Vines) group, which last met two weeks ago at Pasquet’s Liber Pater winery in the Graves, consists of a growing circle of vignerons who work with ungrafted vineyards planted to native varieties. The list includes Francs de Pied president Loïc Pasquet himself, vice-president Egon Müller (Mosel), and secretary Andrea Polidoro of Cupano (Montalcino) and Contrada Contro (Marche); as well as Gocha Chkhaidze of leading Georgian winery, Askaneli; Thibault Liger-Belair (Bur ...
‘Goliath’ 27-litre Sine Qua Non wine uncorked for charity
A ‘Goliath’ 27-litre bottle of Sine Qua Non’s highly prized The Inaugural Syrah from the 2003 vintage provided the centrepiece for a charity event organised by The Legacy Cellar Foundation. Robert M. Parker Jr, the famous wine critic who retired from The Wine Advocate in 2019, donated the ‘unicorn’ bottle in order to help raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which is marking its 60th anniversary. Held at a private residence in Bel Air on 14 May, 60 guests paid ...
Burgundy 2020 releases tap into ‘insatiable’ global demand
Liv-ex said the trade ‘is reporting strong sales’ of Burgundy 2020 wines following the first en primeur releases in recent weeks, despite higher prices. Decanter’s Charles Curtis MW rated Côte d’Or reds and whites highly in his Burgundy 2020 overview, published earlier this month. Liv-ex’s new Burgundy report also suggested that getting hold of some wines has become even more difficult. ‘The trade continues to report an insatiable global buying appetite that has led to reduced alloca ...