This month we had another presentation from Leona De Pasquale, who actually hails from Taiwan, no matter what the name suggests.
This was an intriguing cooks tour of “Island Wines”, although it’s debatable if Japan classifies as an “Island” as such. Island wines are different because of the climatic influence from the sea, and the range of different grapes you get – many of them rare, often left behind by history, and some phylloxera free
So, Japan, Sicily, Sardinia, Crete, Cyprus and Gran Canaria with a key split being between Volcanic and non volcanic.
Notably these are all hot climate and predictably the wines are often grown at altitude, up to 1000m
White
Chateau Mercian Yamanashi Koshu sur lie 2023, Japan 11.0%
Tornatore Etna Bianco 2025, Sicily Carricante 12.5%
Douloufakis Winery, Tachtas 2024, Crete. 12.3%
Zambartas Xynisteri 2025, Cyprus 13.0%
Red
Bodegas Todos Listán Negro 2024, Gran Canaria. 12.5%
Douloufakis Winery, Dafnios Red 2022, Crete. Liatiko. 13.1%
Zambartas Maratheftiko 2023, Cyprus 15%
Mesa Carignan “Buio” 2024, Sardinia. Carignan 13.5%
These were all interesting and drinkable wines, and for me the best white was the Xynisteri from Cyprus, and the best red the Carignan from Sardinia.
The wines are available in the UK – the Greek ones from Maltby & Greek, others from Wine Direct, Woodwinters, Wanderlust Wines. None are cheap, at around the 20-23 quid mark.
