Magnificent Morocco!

Wine is crafted all around the world, from the classic Old World wine producing countries like France, Italy, and Spain, to the innovative New World wine producers, like the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, and beyond. Lesser-known regions often take people by surprise. It’s not often you find a wine produced in, say, Morocco. But often such little-known regions produce wines worthy of a second glance, and definitely, a second glass! Morocco is one of those countries. 

But how could Morocco be a wine producing country? The very idea of winemaking in Morocco almost defies logic. Morocco is a Muslim kingdom, meaning that 98% of the population is forbidden by law to drink alcohol. That alone is reason to assume wine production might be extremely limited if in existence at all, isn’t it? Not necessarily.

In fact, Morocco has a history of winemaking going back centuries. A former French colony, Morocco was the destination of choice for many top French winemakers when the insect, phylloxera, infected the vineyards of Europe in the late 1800s, leaving devastation and despair in its wake. Intrepid French wine producers left their native countries and brought their vines and their expertise to the northern tip of Africa. The development of fine wines and a small, but impressive, wine industry didn’t take long to follow.

While Morocco plays host to the mighty Sahara Desert to the south, the country’s terrain also includes stunning snowcapped mountains that tower over verdant, rolling hills, and are kissed by the salt of the sea. Not far from the famous city, Casablanca, terroir is made up of schist and shale with gravel and chalky limestone. The vineyards of this region are protected by the vast Atlas Mountain range, which separates the desert from the sea. This is, indeed, wine country.

Both red and white grapes are grown in Morocco, including well-known varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. In addition, many vineyards produce an ancient, local variety called ‘Faranah’. The fruit basks in the abundant North African sun and reaps the benefits of the cool breezes and fog swept in off the Atlantic Ocean. The grapes are produced as single varietal wines or blended into specialty cuvees.

The best Moroccan winemakers seek to express the unique qualities of their exotic land, while making the wines in a traditional French style. Many producers in the region are committed to natural winemaking. The grapes are grown without pesticide or fungicide and are harvested by hand. In natural winemaking, only the native, wild yeasts are used during fermentation and in general, the wines are left unfiltered, with no extra sulphites or preservatives added at bottling. The result is pure, clean, balanced, and delicious. In the Kingdom of Morocco, ambitious new wines are literally being created from Old World roots.

Moroccan wines are notably good and getting easier to find. Seek out these intriguing, well-priced wines from this exceptional corner of the globe. Look for Thalvin Wines, one of Morocco’s most esteemed producers.  Ask for Moroccan wines at your favorite Valley wine shops such as Vendome, The Flask, and Woodland Hills Wines. You won’t be disappointed.

Cheers!