Old World vs. New World

The old world

Winemaking goes back to antiquity, with the first evidence of viticulture being found in the Mediterranean region and the Middle East. Vine stocks (and the taste for wine!) was spread via the conquest of civilizations. This means wine has been made for a very long time in European countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as in Greece and Lebanon. In general terms, these are the countries included in the designation “Old World.”

The new world

“New World” refers to countries in North America (Canada, the United States), South America (Chile, Argentina, Uruguay) and Oceania (Australia, New Zealand), as well as South Africa. Vines were transported to the New World over the last 400 years by explorers from the Old World; viticulture and winemaking were thus propagated by the French, Dutch, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese who travelled to these new territories.

Two different ideas about wine

More than being simply two geographic distinctions, the Old World/New World distinction also refers to two styles of winemaking. In general, wines from Europe are more delicate, complex, elegant and restrained, with more obvious acidity and better aging potential. New World wines are seen as more jammy, drinkable and seductive, as fatter and woodier, less austere and acidic—in short, more charming! But in reality, this distinction is less and less evident, since some New World wines are particularly elegant, and Europe is now attempting to produce wines that are more seductive. So happily these stereotypes are disappearing!