The Brass Tacks: Old World vs. New World Wine

Before we can understand the breadth of wine, we need to understand how to talk about it.

FIRST, THE FRAMEWORK

Old World refers to Europe. New World refers to everywhere else.

France is considered the birthplace of wine, and it established wine laws that are followed and modeled globally.

One major differentiator between Old World and New World wines is how they are named. Old World wines are named after the region where the grape is grown and the wine is produced. New World wines are named after the grape varietal itself.

For example, Sancerre is a Sauvignon Blanc grown in the Sancerre region of the Loire Valley in France. In New Zealand, it is simply called Sauvignon Blanc.

Another example, Bordeaux is a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, or a blend grown in the Bordeaux region of France. In Napa, it is simply called Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot.

TERROIR & TASTE

The taste of wine is determined by a few factors, the most important of which is terroir. Climate, soil type, environment, sun exposure, and even wind all dictate how grapes grow and, ultimately, how wine tastes.

For instance, Europe has cooler temperatures that allow grapes to ripen slowly. This creates elegant, earthy, food-friendly wines with subtle fruit flavors.

Warmer climates like California, Australia, and Argentina produce riper grapes resulting in bolder, fruit-forward wines with fuller body and lower acidity.

This is why a Pinot Noir from Burgundy tastes different from a Pinot Noir from Sonoma. Same grape, different environment.

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY

Old World winemakers follow tradition and let the land speak through the wine. New World winemakers embrace experimentation and innovation, which often results in bolder, richer wines.

Having a baseline understanding of what Old World and New World wines represent makes everything else about wine easier to navigate. Once you get this, everything else clicks.

XO,

Jess