Matthew's World of Wine and Drink

Chardonnay is one of the most famous grape varieties across the world. Made in a wide range of styles, it can provoke strong opinions. This episode explores the grape, the styles of wine it makes, and the regions in which it's grown.

Portugal is best known for port, but it is producing an increasing amount of high quality white and red wines from indigenous varieties little planted elsewhere.

From the vast, hot plateau of La Mancha to the wet, cool Atlantic Coast - Spain has extreme climates which can be challenging but rewarding for winemakers.

The production of sparkling wine across the Americas is only fifty years old, but producers have been seeking out cooler sites to make quality wine using the traditional method. This episode focuses on California, Argentina, and Chile, as well as less famous regions.

Exploring the regions of Mediterranean Spain, along the coast from innovative Catalunya to the big reds of Valencia and Murcia.

Looking at three countries in the southern hemisphere, all of which produce sparkling at different levels of quality. South Africa is the only non-European country with a specific designation for sparkling wine (Méthode Cap Classique); Australia has its distinctive Sparkling Shiraz; and New Zealand has perhaps the most naturally ideal conditions for sparkling wine production.

The north of Spain is home to one of the country's historic regions, Rioja. This episode explores its history and its wines, as well as those of nearby regions Navarra, Somontano, Catalayud, and Cariñena.

Second episode on Italian sparkling wine, focusing on Franciacorta, Italy's only DOCG for wine made using the traditional method, and Lambrusco, the unusual and very varied style of red sparkling wine.

First of two episodes on Italian sparkling wine, focusing on the two big-volume regions, Prosecco and Asti.

Cava covers a broad area of Spain, producing wines that are too often simple and disappointing. There is momentum to raise the quality - find out what's happening in cava in this episode.