The Hot New Wine Regions in Your Favorite Countries

Used to mean: Bordeaux
New hot spot: Corsica
A rugged Mediterranean island about the size of Connecticut that’s French but closer to Italy, Corsica is home to a number of grapes, many rarely found elsewhere. Niellucciu and sciaccarellu, both reds, and vermentinu, a white, are the most prominent. Sea breezes keep the vineyards from getting too hot, so the wines are surprisingly elegant.
Try: Domaine de Torraccia Porto Vecchio Rouge 2012 ($25) has an intensely smoky, red-fruit character. Comte Abbatucci Cuvée Collection Rouge Ministre Impérial 2013 ($98) is aromatic, with notes of anise, plum, rose petals, and campfire.

Used to mean: Mosel
New hot spot: Pfalz
Riesling grows everywhere in Germany, but with global warming, some of the southern regions are making more room for pinot noir. The Pfalz, stretching south from Mainz toward the French border, has a long, dry autumn because of the Vosges Mountains, which keep the rain at bay.
Try: Friedrich Becker Pinot Noir 2012 ($22) shows the firm, meaty, ripe character a long autumn creates. Okonomierat Rebholz Trocken “S” 2010 ($40) is more about cherry and spice aromas; look for “Spätburgunder” (pinot noir in German) on the label.