Understanding of the difference between the old world & new world wine varieties is essential in maximizing the wine-tasting experience.
The most basic difference between Old World and New World wines is geographic: “Old World” refers to the traditional wine growing regions of Europe, while “New World” refers to everything else.
Old World Wine
Old world wines refer to wine produced in European countries and traditional wine-making nations such as France, Italy, Greece, and Spain as well as some countries in North Africa and the Middle East. Their long history of viniculture extending to thousands of years for some resulted in the creation of winemaking standards and the implementation of wine quality control measures.
New World Wine
New world wines, on the other hand, refer to wines produced by countries such as the United States, South America, Australia, and South Africa. These so-called new world regions have only been making wine since the sixteenth century, making them relatively young wine producers. These countries adopted the traditions of the old world wine producers.
Wine Style
Wine style, which is characterized by the smell, feel, and taste of tipple, is probably the most notable difference between the two varieties. The climates of New World wine regions are often warmer, which tends to result in riper, more alcoholic, full-bodied and fruit-centered wines. These wines are often made in a more highly extracted and oak-influenced style. Old World wines tend to be lighter-bodied, exhibiting more herb, earth, mineral and floral components. While these are gross generalizations, that’s how these terms are commonly used.
There are significant differences between old and new world wines. Currently, the old world wines seem to be the more preferred of the two; wine drinkers associate the products with the heritage and nostalgia these wines represent.
New & Old World Wine selection are now available at The Oaks Cellars