When it comes to wine, the big decision usually lies between red or white … or maybe New World (California) vs. Old World (France, Italy, Spain). But a few other regions are drawing renewed attention with opportunities to explore them sip by sip in Las Vegas.
🇵🇹 The Port Wine Festival at the USA Today Wine & Food Experience
Portuguese wines are among the fastest growing category in the industry, thanks to a balance of tradition and ingenuity with a diverse geography.
“Portugal has over 250 native grape varieties, many of which are grown nowhere else in the world,” according to AEVP Executive Director Isabel Marrana. “This richness allows winemakers to create highly distinctive wines with unique flavor profiles” ranging from sweet Port and Madeira options to light, drinkable Vinho Verdes.
The Port Wine Festival is like an event-within-an-event at the USA Today Wine & Food Experience on October 12 in Downtown. It includes around 500 bottles of Portuguese wine, 100 of which are Port.
🇬🇪 Georgian Wines at Ada’s
Not Georgia, the state. Georgia, the country. Kat Thomas of Ada’s traveled to the Eastern European nation twice in recent months to learn about one of the oldest wine-making regions in the world. The craft is based on indigenous grapes and ancient methods, from the coastal climate of the Black Sea to more mountainous terrain in the East.
“It’s emotional, it’s intentional, and it comes from all parts of the Earth without manipulating it,” says Thomas, who’s hoping to have Georgian wines in stock by the end of the month.
Located in Tivoli Village, Ada’s has always shown a dedication to small producers and underrepresented vineyards, recently earning the award of Most Original Wine List in the World by the World of Fine Wine.
🇦🇺 Australian Wines at Garagiste
For years, Australia had a bad rap for cheap “critter wines,” but things are changing. Ambitious wine makers proving that the craft is being taken more seriously, especially in southern regions like the Yarra Valley, where respect to the land is practiced with some of the oldest vines on the planet. Some favor lighter styles of Shiraz. Others specialize in fresher interpretations of Italian grapes.
“Everything coming out of that country is interesting right now,” says Eric Prato of Garagiste, a wine bar in the Arts District that’s making a point to have more Australian labels in stock.
🇲🇽 Mexican Food + Wine Festival at Border Grill
Border Grill at Mandalay is one of the first — and possibly only — restaurants in Las Vegas to feature a full Mexican wine list.
"Mexican wines are so exciting because they reflect the rich diversity of the country’s terrain and culture,” according to the Border Grill’s Susan Feniger. “These vineyards grow in tough conditions, which brings out wines full of character, complexity, and a touch of elegance,” adds fellow chef and business partner Mary Sue Milliken.
See what it’s all about with the inaugural Border Grill Mexican Food + Wine Festival on October 25, 7 - 10 p.m. Guests will roam between food stations while trying sips from the restaurant’s wine lineup.
- The local wine scene is picking up added momentum with the recent openings of Crush Pad and Wineaux. Both were included in a recent City Cast Las Vegas episode on the best new bars in Las Vegas. [City Cast Las Vegas 🎧]
