It’s impossible to discuss the world of wine without mentioning Italy near the beginning of the conversation. In fact, it’s pretty much illegal—or should be—to pour yourself a glass of wine without having a thought, however momentary, of the iconic boot jutting out toward the Mediterranean and the Ionian, pointing its toe toward Sicily, the mountains up north anchoring it all to the great mass of the Continent. And no wonder: Italy is home to one of the most diverse, exciting wine cultures on the planet, with hundreds of grape varieties being coaxed to maturity and crafted into wines that range in style from profound sparklers like Franciacorta and age-worthy collectors items from Barolo and Barbaresco, to the classic beauties of Tuscany and the deeply mineral bottlings of Sicily, those wines grown on the flanks of Mt. Etna that are as tied to their terroir as any in the world. At Artisan’s Cellar, we are proud to work with some of the finest importers and producers throughout the country, providing wine as profound and honest as any you’ll ever taste.

So many of the great wines of the world use France as a benchmark. Speak with a Pinot Noir producer in Oregon and chances are you’ll hear references to the great reds of Burgundy. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon? Once upon a time, winegrowers there looked longingly toward Bordeaux for their inspiration. In the world of sparkling wine, no discussion about bubbles is complete without deference being paid to Champagne. There’s a reason for this: With such a wide range of terroirs and climates throughout the country, France embodies the full potential of grape-growing and winemaking. Cooler, less sun-kissed climes up north inexorably give way to the warmer, and occasionally Mediterranean-influenced, appellations down south. The taut, mineral-driven Chardonnays of Chablis seem to be from a world away from the heat-radiating galets of the vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. For all this diversity, however, one thing ties them all together: Respect—for the land itself, for the glorious wine history that France boasts as a whole, and for the wine in the bottle, which is likely to be among the most terroir-expressive and distinctive in the world.

Spanish wine, for a long time, was synonymous with its most famous region: Rioja. Beyond that, Americans’ familiarity with the incredible range of the country’s production was more than limited. Lucky for us all, Spain’s reputation has evolved far beyond that in recent decades, and these days, some of the most exciting bottlings in Europe are coming out of the largest country on the Iberian Peninsula. From the stone-fruit and sea-salt energy of Albariño from Rías Baixas and muscular fruit of Toro, to the deep minerality of Priorat and long-lived reds of Ribera del Duero, Spain is a wine-producing nation of fabulous breadth and infinite possibility. With this much excitement and growth, the wines of Spain are more deserving of attention now than ever before.

Once upon a time, the wine world, at least for American consumers, was a fairly simple concept to grasp: There was France, Italy, and maybe a bit of Germany thrown in for good measure. California had potential, but…well, there wasn’t much else out there, at least as far as fine wine went. That, of course, is no longer the case, and there are stunning wines being produced all over the world: The United States, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Argentina, the Canary Islands, Sardinia, and more. It’s easy to make the case that this—right now—is the most exciting time to be a wine lover in history. In fact, with so many remarkable wines coming from all over the globe, it can occasionally become confusing: Which bottlings are worth considering amid the cacophony of all of them? Which is why Artisan’s Cellar makes it our business to taste as much as possible, sift through it all, and provide only the top examples we discover, no matter where we find them. You may not be familiar with them all, but we’re pretty sure each one will win you over.