| rld" and "New World" are perhaps two of the | | | | World wines to come from sunnier climates |
| most used terms in wine lexicon. People new to | | | | where grapes often ripen with greater ease, |
| the world of wine frequently express frustration | | | | resulting in lots of primary fruit aromas and |
| when confronted with these terms, either on a | | | | flavours and generally higher alcohol levels. Old |
| wine bottle, or in a wine tasting. After all, what | | | | World wines conversely generally come from |
| does each term actually mean? | | | | cooler climates, and may have crisper acidity and |
| Old World wines refer to all wines that come | | | | (comparatively) more austere characteristics. |
| from Europe and The Mediterranean basin, where | | | | Simple to spot in a blind wine tasting then? Not so |
| wine has historically been made to established | | | | unfortunately. In wine we are increasingly seeing |
| styles using certain grape varieties and | | | | what's being called a global taste. In the latter half |
| winemaking techniques. Wines from Bordeaux, | | | | of the 20th century, winemakers from the Old |
| Burgundy, Champagne (all France), Rioja (Spain) | | | | World and New World started not only to adopt |
| and Chianti (Italy) are therefore all Old World. | | | | each others techniques and approaches, they also |
| The Old World has been making wine (almost) for | | | | visited, stayed at, took over, and sometimes |
| ever - the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans | | | | founded vineyards and wineries in each other's |
| establishing the earliest vineyards. New World | | | | territory. This homogenisation has made the |
| wines are basically everywhere else! The | | | | distinctions between Old World and New World |
| America's (North and South), Australia, New | | | | wines blurry. |
| Zealand, South Africa are all New World wine | | | | In the future expect this homogenisation to |
| producers. Winemaking in the New World began in | | | | continue unabated, as winemakers from across |
| the 16th century (initially in Mexico curiously | | | | the world adopt best practice from each other |
| enough). | | | | and our lines of communication keep on opening |
| So how do New World and Old World wines differ | | | | up. Who knows, maybe in the future the terms |
| in style? In a wine tasting for example? Well as a | | | | Old World and New World will become obsolete? |
| general rule of thumb, you would expect New | | | | |