The expression “out with the old and in with new” really doesn’t apply in the wine world. While there are some notable distinctions between Old World and New World wines, these days the gaps in style are increasingly less obvious.
Old World Wines
The term Old World typically refers to classic European wine producing regions such as Italy, France, and Germany, occasionally encompassing other countries around the Mediterranean basin.
In the Old World, place matters. Unlike many New World wines which are labelled according to grape, most European wines are labelled according to their place of origin. The wines made in these regions are very much of their geography, often referred to as their terroir.
Featured wines from the Old World:
What is terroir?
The word terroir can mean different things to different people. Some use the term to describe the impact of soil, slope, and climatic conditions on a region’s wine.
Others—especially when discussing Old World wine regions—take a broader view, arguing that in addition to climate and soil, history, culture, and tradition also play a role in developing a wine’s flavour.
New World Wines
New World wine is produced in the Americas, Australia and New Zealand. While all of the New World wine countries were planted with vines by their European settlers, few came to international prominence before the 1980’s. This comparable lack of history has allowed New World wine regions to create new styles and utilize previously unheard of winemaking techniques.
Many New World wines are made in very warm climates, which has contributed to the rich, ripe fruit flavours of certain styles. In fact, over time the New World style has become so popular that many Old World wineries have adopted their techniques.
Featured wines from the New World: