France and Italy — and California, for that matter — get a lot of press for their wine selections, and rightfully so, but I have discovered some delightful varieties from other states and countries around the world.

I’ve mentioned before a few faves that I found from Australia, and it’s no secret that a glass of Peter Brum is like a decadent dessert to me. I even wrote a Foodie Friday post on mulling spice last fall.

At the risk of offending any white wine fans, I’m speaking only of red wine. I am of the humble opinion that white wine, as a general rule (I can count the exceptions on one hand) tastes like I would imagine licking a sheet of aluminum foil. It leaves a metallic taste in my mouth. Blech.

So, I hope you don’t think that I’m a lush. I prefer connoisseur. Doesn’t that sound better? 😉

Although Peter Brum’s Pinot Noir has always held first place in my book, I recently discovered another German Pinot Noir that is not only smooth and delicately sweet, but also it comes in a gorgeous red bottle that I intend to convert into a flower vase.

Is this not one of the most fabulous wine bottles you’ve ever seen? The angle of the snapshot makes the front look smooth, but it actually has a beveled crease in the center.

The wine itself is lighter than I expected; you might be able to tell that it isn’t the deep purple of other Pinot Noir varieties. It is sweeter than most red wines, which means the sugar content is higher, so the extra carbs need to be taken into account with the other foods that I’ve eaten that day.

Come to think of it, Peter Brum comes in a lovely cobalt blue bottle. The Germans have really cornered the market on outstanding wine packaging!