Occasionally, it is perceived that some areas retain their supreme wines for local consumption, a notion often raised by individuals recently returned from a holiday in a sunny place. They are firm in their belief that the sampled wines during their trip manifested superior quality compared to those available for purchase in their home country. They speculate that some wine-producing areas deliberately reserve superior wines for local consumption and circulate only the lesser quality wines for export.
My history as a wine critic, combined with my previous official role as a professional wine purchaser, has allowed me to visit a multitude of global wine-growing regions. Each year, I am granted the pleasure of savouring thousands of various wines. I can confidently assert that the majority of wineries are eager to market their wines universally without preference. Their primary challenge lies in managing to sell their entire annual yield. The notion that special tanks or vintages are shrouded in secrecy and strictly kept for local consumption is simply unsubstantiated.
There are, however, a few exceptions – certain producers are not proficient in the distribution and selling of their wines. This deficit can stem from a lack of commercial acumen, language barriers that hinder exportation, or simply convenience in selling their wines locally. This occurrence is exceedingly rare, as many competent producers are eventually discovered by savvy, multilingual importers who manage the necessary proceedings.
A minuscule fraction of producers cultivate small quantities of high-quality wines that receive high praise. Commonly though, they will distribute measured quantities to diverse countries globally, a strategy beneficial for their marketing and broadens their client base.
There could be a couple of plausible explanations for individuals favouring ‘holiday wines’. Firstly, due to elevated excise duties, an eight-euro wine bottle from France, Spain, or Italy is inclined to taste significantly superior to an equally priced bottle in Ireland. Secondly, enjoying a glass of wine while seated on a charming bistro’s terrace in a picturesque village naturally enhances the wine’s palate compared to drinking the same wine on a damp, chilly, dreary Irish evening.