Northern Europe

English and Welsh wines continue to go from strength to strength with not only the sparkling wines competing on equal terms with champagne but increasingly the still white wines making a case for international recognition and even a few top-quality reds appearing. The poor-quality wines of former communist Eastern Europe have now largely faded from the memory as wineries and vineyards have returned to private hands, investment flowing into winemaking facilities has been crucial in improving quality. Romania is an example and is producing many excellent value varietal wines which can form a stepping stone to the top quality wines the country also makes. Hungary has a long wine tradition, not just from the famous Tokaj region, and to the north Slovakia produces a range of excellent wines with the Pinot Noir showing particular promise. Croatia makes a great range of wines, familiar to the many tourists in the region. The old Welschrizling of Yugoslav Riesling fame has been rebranded Graševina and makes a delightfully aromatic white.