Old World
Wine is made across the globe and to keep things simple we often split the regions into 2 categories – ‘Old World’ and ‘New World’. When we refer to ‘Old World’ wines we are referring to those countries that have always traditionally and historically made wine. This is where wine production originated and was developed for centuries before the vines were taken to other parts of the world. E.g France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal. Wines tend to be named after the place of origin, rather than a grape variety, and have strict laws about production. This means that the wines are more terroir-driven and reflect the location where the vines are grown.
Generally, the old-world producing countries have a cooler climate (although there are exceptions) which is why location of the vineyard is paramount to optimise the natural resources available. The wines are more subtle and nuanced. White wines have more citrus character, reds have more red berry flavours. They are often lower in alcohol and higher in acidity.
