Some good, affordable wines in Taiwan

By Kris Love
Translated by Angel Pu

In response to a request from a couple of friends and regular readers of this column, this month I thought we'd look at some affordable wines which are definitely available in Taiwan. I have tried to focus on wines which are available at supermarkets or chain stores to give you the best chance of finding them.

First up is Chile. Winemaker Alvaro Espinoza doesn't have the Midas touch but achieves his golden results through talent, a constant search for perfection and hard work. He is widely regarded as one of the world's most talented winemakers and anything he puts his name on these days will be worth checking out. His main focus is the Antiyal Winery, which is producing stunning red wines from Merlot, Carmenere and Cabernet Sauvignon. They aren't cheap for Chilean wines, but worth it. For those of you looking for something more affordable, Alvaro has a hand in several wines from other producers in Chile. I particularly like wines from Organicos Emiliana, the organic arm of wine giant Concha y Toro. Although Espinoza doesn't now have any involvement with it, I also rate the wines from Vina Carmen, especially the Reserva range, where he was head winemaker when I met him.

Another area rapidly improving in quality offerings at decent Taiwan prices is Rioja in Spain. Rioja is often described as Spain's Bordeaux, not so much for similarity in wine style, but for leading the way in the international reputation stakes. Some of the most consistent producers--such as Campo Viejo, Cune (often written CVNE), and Marquis de Riscal--are to be found in Taiwan and, although they are not necessarily the most innovative or risk-taking producers, they all produce some good-to-great wines with their size meaning higher production and, ultimately, cheaper prices for you. If you want to add a touch of complexity to your selections, go for a Rioja Crianza, which means the wine has had some ageing in oak barrels. Traditionally, Rioja has used a lot of American oak barrels, which tend to give the wines a soft, vanilla finish.
Happy hunting,
Kris.

kris@wineconnection.co.nz
0916-222-336