Use our region glossary to trace terroir, climate, and quintessential styles across the wine world.
Melnik, in southwestern Bulgaria near the Pirin Mountains, is the country's smallest wine-producing region and also a historic town famed for its distinctive reds. Vineyards sit on steep, sun-drenched slopes and terraces above the town, producing compact, aromatic wines with a rustic, spicy characte… Read more
Mendocino County in northern California is a diverse, often cool-climate wine region stretching from foggy Pacific slopes into warmer inland valleys. Its wine story blends coastal Anderson Valley’s reputation for elegant Pinot Noir and sparkling wine with upland and river-valley parcels producing ro… Read more
Mendoza, Argentina's most famous wine region, sits in the rainshadow east of the Andes and produces the country’s signature, world-famous Malbecs. Vineyards range from the plains around the city of Mendoza to high-altitude sites along mountain rivers, blending old-vine character with modern winemaki… Read more
Mexico's wine story stretches from 16th‑century mission vines to a dynamic modern scene centered in Baja California's Valle de Guadalupe. The country produces a range of styles shaped by coastal Mediterranean influences and high‑altitude central valleys: sun‑ripe, Mediterranean reds and rosés from G… Read more
Michigan's wine industry clusters along the Great Lakes shoreline, where Lake Michigan and other large bodies of water moderate a cool climate that extends the growing season. Commercial production expanded in the late 20th century from experimental plantings to a diverse regional industry centered… Read more
Mikulov, in the southern tip of Moravia near the Austrian border, is a historic Czech wine district centered on the town of Mikulov and the Pálava Hills. Vineyards cling to south- and south-east-facing slopes around limestone outcrops and loess plains, producing wines with bright acidity and pronoun… Read more
Minervois, a historic AOC in the Languedoc between Carcassonne and Narbonne, produces characterful, Mediterranean-influenced wines that blend tradition and modern winemaking. Long cultivated since Roman times, the region gained official recognition in the 20th century and is known for village-based… Read more
Minho, in Portugal's far northwest, is the heartland of Vinho Verde and a landscape of green hills, river valleys and Atlantic coastline. Historically a viticultural province with roots back to Roman times, it is best known for lively, youthful wines prized for their high acidity and fresh fruit cha… Read more
Missouri's wine history dates to the early 19th century when German settlers established vineyards along the Missouri River; Augusta and Hermann became some of the first federally recognized wine regions in the United States. The state is best known for its hardy hybrid and native varieties, notably… Read more
Mittelburgenland, located in eastern Austria's Burgenland near the Hungarian border, is a compact, highly regarded red-wine district best known for its powerful, peppery Blaufränkisch. Vineyards are situated on warm, rolling hills and terraces that enhance ripeness and concentration, resulting in wi… Read more
Modena, in Italy's Emilia-Romagna, centers on a lively, food-friendly wine culture best known for Lambrusco. Vineyards spread from the Po Valley plains to the lower Apennine foothills, producing wines that range from spritzy, fruit-driven reds to more structured bottlings. The region's winemaking bl… Read more
Moldova is a small but historically rich wine country in Eastern Europe, nestled between Romania and Ukraine. Winemaking here dates back millennia, with archaeological evidence of viticulture and a deep rural tradition. During the Soviet era Moldova became a centre for large-scale production and for… Read more
