These ARE the good old days.

More wines, in greater variety, are made available to us today than at any other time in history. This Golden Age of Wine, as it has been called, presents us with an array of wines that is hard to absorb let alone enjoy. We will not try to explore every wine available, but cover some of the best the world has to offer.

Grapes are successfully grown and the best wines are made in the the relatively narrow temperate climate bands of the world. These bands, extending from 50 degrees N to 30 degrees N above the equator and 30 degrees S to 50 degrees S below the equator, provide in various areas within them, locations with the right combination of sunshine, rain, temperature, and exposure.