New World refers to all those regions outside of the Old World (simple enough), and the Old World essentially refers to Europe. So if your wine comes from France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Croatia etc, you are drinking Old Word wine.
Old World Wine Regions
Geographically, Old World Wines mostly come from Europe (and a few in the middle east). This includes France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Greece, Israel, the U.K., and Armenia all producing what is now considered Old World Wines.
Old World wines, primarily, are from Europe – think France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Portugal, as well as parts of the Middle East, the Balkans and Georgia. Any other winemaking country is then classified as New World.
Basically, these two terms refer to the region where the wine was produced. Old World refers to countries in Europe, the Mediterranean, and some in the Middle East. This includes: France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Austria, Greece, Lebanon, Israel, Croatia, Georgia, Romania, Hungary and Switzerland.
New World wines are those wines produced outside the traditional winegrowing areas of Europe and the Middle East, in particular from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and the United States (primarily California).
New world wine regions refers to all of the wine growing regions outside of Europe. Key new world wine regions include California, Washington, Oregon, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Generally, the list of countries considered part of the old world are: Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and Germany. And the list of countries considered part of the new world are: USA, Canada, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.
The oldest winemakers
Georgia is generally considered the 'cradle of wine', as archaeologists have traced the world's first known wine creation back to the people of the South Caucasus in 6,000BC. These early Georgians discovered grape juice could be turned into wine by burying it underground for the winter.
So if your wine comes from France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Croatia etc, you are drinking Old Word wine. If it comes from the USA, Chile, South Africa, Australia, you're in New World territory – by the geographical distinction.
Wine has been made in Italy for at least 4,000 years, from the time of prehistoric people who worked with wild grapes to the Greeks, who named the country Oenotria, or “the land of wine,” when they arrived in Italy in the 8th century B.C. The Romans established a vibrant wine trade throughout the their empire, ...
Tracing the History of Italian Wine
Analysis of ancient grape seeds showed that vines grown for wine first appeared on the peninsula between 1300-1100 BC, while a careful study of an ancient wine press found in the 1990s on the island of Sardegna provided samples of a wine deposit that was over 3000 years old.
According to the Great Wine Capitals Global Network, the best wine capitals and wine regions are Adelaide (Australia), Bilbao (Spain), Bordeaux (France), Cape Town (South Africa), Mainz (Germany), Mendoza (Argentina), Lausanne (Switzerland), Porto (Portugal), San Francisco (USA), Valparaiso (Chile) and Verona (Italy).
Old World wine tends to have lighter body, lower alcohol, higher acidity, and less fruity flavor with more minerality. New World wine tends toward fuller body, high alcohol, lower acidity, and pronounced fruit flavors. Of course, this is almost like the difference between cool climate and warm climate wines.
Sauvignon Blanc comes in two distinct styles, old world and new world. Make sure you're picking the right one for your palate! Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most popular grapes in the world. Grown all over the planet, it crops up at cheese pairings, seafood dinners, and casual house parties.
New World wines are made from countries or regions where grapes are imported, so their history of winemaking started later. Countries that are classified as New World include the United States, Australia, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, Japan and more.
Commandaria is comprised of red Mavro grapes (pictured) and white Xynisteri grapes, which are often both grown together in the same vineyard. The first recorded description of the wine comes from the Ancient Greek poet Hesiod who wrote about nama in 800 BC.
The Douro Valley, the world's oldest wine-growing region, is fast becoming one of Portugal's most popular destinations. We traverse the region's landscapes, rich history and must-have experiences.
The Speyer wine bottle (or Römerwein) is a sealed vessel, presumed to contain liquid wine, and so named because it was unearthed from a Roman tomb found near Speyer, Germany. It is considered the world's oldest known bottle of wine.
Beijing was furious, denouncing “political games” meant to assign blame for the pandemic. In response, China unleashed its overwhelming economic might. It imposed a punitive tariff on Australian wine, and the country's biggest overseas market vanished almost immediately.
New World countries include: the U.S., New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, Australia and South Africa. Wines and the winemakers in the New World embody the entrepreneurial spirit you would expect from descendants of immigrants that struck out searching for a new and better life in another place.
The climate and topography
Australia is vast, with topography from expansive deserts to green lowlands to mountain ranges. From cities to the bush to the Outback, no region is the same – and that makes for a unique environment to create some genuinely splendid wines that will take your tastebuds for a spin.
Pinot noir is grown around the world, mostly in cooler climates, and the variety is chiefly associated with the Burgundy region of France. Pinot noir is now used to make red wines around the world, as well as champagne, sparkling white wines such as the Italian Franciacorta, and English sparkling wines.
Australia is mainly known for its Shiraz, or Aussiefied Syrah, and Chardonnay varietals. In fact, these two varieties alone account for 44% of its total wine production!
Known as the wine capital of Australia, Adelaide is surrounded by some of the best wine regions in the country, many of which are just a short drive from the city.