Wines of the Mediterranean: Limited Coastal Finds for Warm-Weather Tables 

Salt, stone, and sun. This issue channels the Mediterranean’s clean lines—precise rosé, sea-sprayed whites, volcanic reds, and traditional-method sparklers—handpicked by Keith, Rachael, and Orazio. Smart values to cellar pieces, all built for warm-weather tables.

• The Mediterranean’s Most Famous Pink Wine Producing Region: Provence
• Summer Wines, Italian Style
• Spanish Wines from the Catalan Coast
• T-Oinos 2023: The New Benchmark in Greek Fine Wine
• Upcoming Tasting — Windswept & Wild: Wines of the Islands

Stretching along France’s sun-drenched Mediterranean coast, Provence is the epicenter of the world’s most iconic rosés. At its heart lies the famed Côtes de Provence, flanked by its satellite appellations Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence and Coteaux Varois en Provence. When global demand for Provence rosé soared, these additional zones expanded access to high-quality wines from across the region. From mountain-framed vineyards to breezy seaside villages, each subregion delivers its own expression of the classic Provençal style.

Beyond these appellations, two other coastal zones—Bandol and Cassis—craft some of Provence’s most distinctive and sought-after wines. Bandol is the crown jewel of Provence, a sun-drenched appellation where Mourvèdre reigns supreme. Clay and limestone soils, combined with cooling Mistral breezes, create ideal conditions for producing structured, age-worthy reds of remarkable depth and complexity. In recent decades, Bandol has also become a benchmark for serious rosé—wines with uncommon texture, persistence, and finesse. With their concentration and structure, Bandol rosés age beautifully, gaining nuance and depth over time. Keep reading On the Trail.

From Sardinia’s beaches to Etna’s black slopes, our Italian Buyer Orazio Campoli spotlights two summer pillars: coastal whites and volcanic reds. Vermentino and Pigato lead the white lineup with saline lift, citrus and green apple, bitter almond, and stony drive—ideal for shrimp, pesto, and branzino. Sicily’s reds—Nerello Mascalese and Frappato—bring bright cherry and pomegranate, Mediterranean herbs, fine tannins, and a flinty edge. Together, these picks span everyday values to serious collectibles from Sardinia, Tuscany, Liguria, Etna, and Vittoria. Read more about these wines here.

From the rugged hills just inland from the Mediterranean to the traditional-method cellars of Penedès, our Spanish Buyer Rachael Ryan spotlights two coastal-influenced classics. Priorat is in renaissance: earlier harvests, gentler extractions, and toned-down oak let Garnacha and Cariñena show concentrated fruit, mineral drive, garrigue-like lift, and fine, dusty tannins. Along the coast, Cava—and its quality-driven kin, Corpinnat and Conca del Riu Anoia—deliver bottle-fermented sparkle with extended aging, sea-breeze freshness, and standout value. Together, these picks span cellar-worthy reds to precise, bone-dry bruts that overdeliver. Read more about these picks On the Trail.

Since 2016, T-Oinos, based on the majestic island of Tinos, has been guided by renowned oenologist Stéphane Derenoncourt (Domaine de Chevalier). The results speak for themselves. Amidst the dramatic granite boulders lies a mosaic of terraced vineyards and diverse soils, each imparting distinctive textures and aromatic complexity to the wines which rivals the world’s finest wines. The 2023 “Clos Stegasta” Assyrtiko received 95 points, while the “Clos Stegasta Rare” earned an impressive 98 points from James Suckling, who raved: “There’s no other Assyrtiko like this — will age beautifully.” The refreshing rosé should not be overlooked, and for those who appreciate deep, succulent reds, the age-worthy 95-point Mavrotragano is well worth discovering.

From volcanic slopes to windswept shores this tasting explores the extraordinary diversity of island wines, where rugged terroirs and maritime climates shape truly distinctive styles. From the volcanic soils of Sicily’s Mount Etna and Lanzarote, to the limestone-rich hills of Crete, to Sardinia’s sun-drenched Vermentino and bold reds, and the elegant, mineral-driven wines of Corsica’s Patrimonio—each glass tells the story of a unique island heritage and the flavors the sea and soil impart.