Wines Of The World

By Anita Hale


You can find over 1000 different kind of grapes used in wine-making. However, the noble grapes are those primarily used in the process. Noble includes both red and white grapes. The main white grapes will have very familiar-sounding names. These include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Riesling. The red noble grapes are also all widely-known. They are Merlot, Syrah (also known as Shiraz), Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Pinot Noir.

Even though wine comes from all corners of the globe, it has two distinct categories. These are the traditional wine-making countries and the newer wine-making countries. Traditional countries are referred to as Old World. Countries that have only turned to wine-making in more recent centuries are called New World. Old World countries tend to be based In Europe, but also include areas of the Mediterranean and North Africa. The most well known Old World Wine comes from the likes of France, Spain, Italy and Germany. New World wines are produced in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and elsewhere.

France contains many famous wine-making regions. Arguably the most popular region is Bordeaux. Bordeaux produces many red wines. These are usually called Claret. It is also known for having the oldest wine classification system. This goes all the way back to 1855. But this is only used on wine made on the left bank of the Dordogne. The Loire Valley is another famous wine region in France. This is where Sancerre comes from. The appellation of Sancerre lies almost entirely on the left bank of the Loire river. It is famed mainly for producing Sauvignon Blanc. However, Pinot Noir also comes from there.

Other famous wine regions include La Rioja in Spain. This region contains over 15,000 vineyards. It produces both red and white wine. However, the vast majority of its output is red wine. Chianti is the main wine region in Italy. Chianti Classico is a sub-region of the area and is highly favoured.

We shall focus on New World wine now. California is one of the biggest New World wine-producing regions. Most wine is produced in Napa or the Sonoma Valley. Cabernet and Zinfadel are commonly grown here. However, California has also established a reputation for numerous varieties of Chardonnay. Many examples are deemed as being over-oaked and bloated.

You have probably heard of the Australian brand "Jacob's Creek". This is extremely popular worldwide. Nevertheless, Australia offers many diverse wine-making regions. These include Margaret River in Western Australia and the Hunter Valley in New South Wales. These regions grow the Semillion grape. This is used to make dry and sweet white wines. The red grape Shiraz is closely associated with the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale in South Australia.

New Zealand is another New World country making waves with their quality offerings. Most of their output is a fresh tasting Sauvignon Blanc. This is made and bottled in the Marlborough region. Pinot Noir is also becoming popular. It is cultivated in the Central Otago region of the country.




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