New World vs Old World Wine
People always talk about Old World wine and New World wine. Do you know what is the difference between them?
Old World wines are made from the regions or countries where the grape varieties were originated, which including the countries in Europe and the Middle East. France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Austria, Greece, Israel, Georgia, Hungary, Lebanon are some countries to be considered as Old World.
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.
The different tastes in wine are usually affected by the winemaking style of the winemaker or the winery’s direction. Terroir and climate are also core factors contributing to the different tastes in wine. Old World wine style is generally described as lighter, higher acidity, less alcohol, plus subtle fruitiness. On the other hand, the New World wine style is described as more ripe, less acidic, alcoholic with fruity notes.
There are more rules and regulations in Old World, which dictate the winemaking practices and eventually shape the style of the wine. However, winemakers in New World are more free in the winemaking process, with the help of technology, and modern techniques, they are able to have more control of the ultimate wine style.