All You Wanted To Understand About "Old World" and "New World" Wine
The earliest New World winemakers in the 18th and 19th century generally followed the rules of the wine making techniques present in Europe at that time, with the intention of creating wines that strongly resembled those obtainable in Europe. Nonetheless, their climates and soils were totally different; frequently having to put up with sweltering temperatures never experienced in the Old World homeland. For example, settlers in California found the sizzling heat was too great for the production of good Wine grapes, until they realized the valleys of Napa as well as Sonoma could benefit from the gaps within the Coastal range of mountains which drew in cold air and fog from the ocean, providing the important cooling element so necessary for top quality Wine.
New World wines are usually defined as...
...wines produced in regions established by colonies of European exploration, which began with some of the longer voyages in the 15th century.
Put simply, New World wines are just about all those produced in regions other than Europe and the Mediterranean countries.
It was throughout the 1960s, when traditions were being questioned, and barriers were coming down, which gave New World Wine its opportunity for worldwide success. Brought about in the United States by men like Robert Mondavi and in Australia by Max Schubert of Penfolds, there came the motivation to modify and improve on the Old order. This came in conjunction with a complete rethink of how to communicate and market the wines.
At first, the New World were simply using famous names from the Old World; "Australian Burgundy" and "Californian Chablis" grew to become commonplace. International law soon caught up with this particular practice, however, ruling that Burgundy or Chablis are only able to be made in Burgundy or Chablis. so even though the New World producer could use identical grapes and identical methods to produce a top quality version of one of these renowned wines, he could not use any name which the consumer would recognise.
These producers quickly came to the conclusion that it was the flavour of the different grape varieties which was the single most significant factor in their particular wines, and arrived at the solution of varietal labelling.They featured the grape variety on the label, their own name, and left it at that. This has changed the entire way we think of, speak about, select - and most importantly - buy Wine. We now understand the importance of the different grapes, because it is these varieties, as opposed to the place of origin, that is stressed on the label. We're all now used to ordering a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or a Rioja. No other idea has made the enjoyment of Wine so easily accessible to all.
This accessibility has led to a willingness to test: to buy and experience the type of wine we enjoy, wherever it was made, New World or Old World. Now the Old World has recognized it must move into this modern World so that it can compete and survive, and the naming of grapes on labels has become virtually as common in Europe as any place in the winemaking World.
The challenge for the newer producers is to create wines which have the quality of the originals from the Old World, that will have the staying power to keep them being purchased and enjoyed by wine lovers all over the world. This is all good news for us; it means that we have a greater choice of wines than ever before, from a wider number of places. Additionally, it means that we have a chance to experience what a few of the world's greatest wines have to offer - at a reasonable price.
New World wines are usually defined as...
...wines produced in regions established by colonies of European exploration, which began with some of the longer voyages in the 15th century.
Put simply, New World wines are just about all those produced in regions other than Europe and the Mediterranean countries.
It was throughout the 1960s, when traditions were being questioned, and barriers were coming down, which gave New World Wine its opportunity for worldwide success. Brought about in the United States by men like Robert Mondavi and in Australia by Max Schubert of Penfolds, there came the motivation to modify and improve on the Old order. This came in conjunction with a complete rethink of how to communicate and market the wines.
At first, the New World were simply using famous names from the Old World; "Australian Burgundy" and "Californian Chablis" grew to become commonplace. International law soon caught up with this particular practice, however, ruling that Burgundy or Chablis are only able to be made in Burgundy or Chablis. so even though the New World producer could use identical grapes and identical methods to produce a top quality version of one of these renowned wines, he could not use any name which the consumer would recognise.
These producers quickly came to the conclusion that it was the flavour of the different grape varieties which was the single most significant factor in their particular wines, and arrived at the solution of varietal labelling.They featured the grape variety on the label, their own name, and left it at that. This has changed the entire way we think of, speak about, select - and most importantly - buy Wine. We now understand the importance of the different grapes, because it is these varieties, as opposed to the place of origin, that is stressed on the label. We're all now used to ordering a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or a Rioja. No other idea has made the enjoyment of Wine so easily accessible to all.
This accessibility has led to a willingness to test: to buy and experience the type of wine we enjoy, wherever it was made, New World or Old World. Now the Old World has recognized it must move into this modern World so that it can compete and survive, and the naming of grapes on labels has become virtually as common in Europe as any place in the winemaking World.
The challenge for the newer producers is to create wines which have the quality of the originals from the Old World, that will have the staying power to keep them being purchased and enjoyed by wine lovers all over the world. This is all good news for us; it means that we have a greater choice of wines than ever before, from a wider number of places. Additionally, it means that we have a chance to experience what a few of the world's greatest wines have to offer - at a reasonable price.
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