New World style to note is the way in which wines are labeled. New oak is more commonly used in New World regions, whereas Old World regions tend to stick with neutral wood.Īnother Old World vs. New World contrast, specifically with regards to oak usage. Winemaking styles also play a major role in the Old World vs. No Fine Print Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 (New World) Zorzal Sauvignon Blanc Mendoza 201 7 (New World)ĭomaine de Galouchey VdF ‘Vin de Jardin’ 2016 (Old World) vs. Laporte Sancerre ‘Le Rochoy’ 2019 (Old World) vs. Presqu’ile Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County 2018 (New World)

Wyatt Chardonnay 2018 (New World)ĭomaine Charles Audoin Bourgogne Rouge 2018 (Old World) vs. Olivier Merlin Mâcon Blanc ‘La Roche Vineuse’ 2017 (Old World) vs. Here are a few of our favorite side-by-sides that best illustrate the differences: To experience the classic differences for yourself, we recommend grabbing two textbook examples of the same grape variety from classic Old World and New World regions. Some of our favorite New World winemakers embodying this ‘Old World’ style of vinification include Arnot-Roberts, Pax Mahle, Evening Land, and Chacra. Vignerons in the New World are continuing to seek out higher-elevation growing sites, which inevitably leads to higher-acid fruit. On the other hand, it’s just as common to find New World wines with lower ABVs and brighter acidity, as consumer/winemaker preferences continue to evolve. (Check out Raul Perez’s La Vizcaina ‘El Rapolao’ 2017 to see what we mean.) Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to see Old World wines clocking in at relatively high ABVs (14%+) due to rising temperatures and increasing ripeness. As temperatures around the globe rise, wine regions worldwide are getting hotter, both in Old World and New World regions. Although this is a good place to start, there are many obvious exceptions – and things are beginning to change.

New World wines are usually fuller-bodied, higher in alcohol, have lower acidity, and are much riper on the palate. Old World wines tend to be lighter-bodied, lower in alcohol, have brighter acidity, and show more earth-driven flavors. (In other words, basically everywhere else that isn’t Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East.) New World regions include all of North America, South America, Australia, South Africa, and more. New World regions are areas that have adopted winemaking practices from Old World regions to create their own industries. These include (but are not limited to) France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Portugal, Germany, Lebanon, Croatia, Israel, and beyond. Old World regions are winegrowing areas found in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. Not sure what we mean? Check out our breakdown, grab some contrasting bottles, and get ready to taste the differences for yourself. However, these phrases embody a lot more than just the regional focus they imply. If you’ve been around wine for a while, you’ve probably heard the terms Old World and New World thrown around quite a bit.

New world and old world wine maps