Unusual wine routes: discovering lesser-known yet exceptional vineyards

While Bordeaux, Burgundy or Tuscany remain essentials, the world is full of fascinating, still confidential wine regions where some of today’s most expressive and promising wines are being created. Exploring these lesser-known terroirs means discovering spectacular landscapes, rare native grape varieties and passionate winemakers who are reviving ancestral traditions. For seasoned enthusiasts, these journeys are also an opportunity to enrich their collection and rethink the design of their custom wine cellar, integrating new regions, new formats and wines with unique profiles.

Greece: the mineral elegance of islands and mountain peaks

Greek wine is experiencing a spectacular revival. Santorini, with its emblematic assyrtiko grape variety, offers white wines with exceptional tension and salinity. In the north, Naoussa and its xynomavro rival the finest European age-worthy reds. Why these wines captivate:

• rare indigenous grape varieties
• unique volcanic terroirs
• wines built for ageing
• unmatched aromatic identity

In a custom wine cellar, these wines naturally belong in a dedicated zone for Mediterranean discoveries or volcanic-origin crus.

Croatia: one of Europe’s best-kept secrets

Long overlooked, Croatia now offers luminous, precise and seductive wines. Among its flagship regions:

• Istria: iron-rich red soils
• Dalmatia: terraced vineyards plunging toward the Adriatic Sea

You’ll find unique grape varieties such as malvazija istarska and plavac mali, ancestor of zinfandel. Produced in small quantities, these wines seduce collectors seeking rare, authentic cuvées to enhance their cellar.

Portugal: a treasure far beyond port wine

Portugal is today one of the most dynamic countries on the global wine scene. From the reds of the Douro to the vibrant whites of Vinho Verde, all the way to the volcanic wines of the Azores, it is a land of both innovation and tradition. Why these wines fascinate:

• unique diversity of terroirs
• remarkable value for money
• great ageing capacity for reds
• artisanal production

Designing a custom wine cellar then makes it possible to create a dedicated Lusophone zone — ideal for organizing these often-overlooked gems.

Hungary: much more than iconic Tokaji

While Tokaji Aszú remains legendary, Hungary also produces great dry whites (notably from furmint) and elegant reds from the Eger region. What sets these wines apart:

• remarkable freshness
• strong aromatic identity
• excellent ageing potential
• a millennia-old wine heritage

These wines naturally belong in a cellar section dedicated to volcanic-terroir whites or great sweet wines.

The Balkans: an exciting viticultural renaissance

Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro… these countries are rediscovering their wine heritage and producing wines with strong character. Strengths:

• native grape varieties
• concentrated yet balanced wines
• low yields
• preserved traditions

These regions are ideal for enthusiasts seeking distinctive cuvées to highlight in their designer wine cellar.

Why do these destinations inspire custom wine cellar design?

Travelling collectors discover:

• new grape varieties
• special formats (magnums, artisanal bottles)
• wines with strong identities
• rare cuvées available only at the estate

To accommodate them, a custom wine cellar allows you to:

• create personalized zones by country or continent
• include shelves adapted to unusual bottle formats
• display discoveries by region
• design an intuitive layout inspired by wine-travel routes

Wine then becomes a memory, an encounter, a living collection.

Conclusion: a world to explore, a cellar to evolve

Lesser-known vineyards often provide unexpected emotions. They enrich wine culture as much as they enrich private collections. In a custom wine cellar, they find their rightful place: that of discovery, openness and curiosity. Travelling through these unusual wine regions also means rethinking the design of one’s wine cellar so it becomes a genuine sensory atlas.