Old World Wines

What Defines Old World Wines? Old World wines refer to wines produced in European countries with long-established winemaking traditions. The term is tied to regions where winemaking techniques have been passed down for centuries and where regulations emphasize terroir, structure, and balance over fruit-forward expressions.

Key Countries & Regions:

France – Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Rhône, and Loire Valley, all producing highly structured wines that focus on terroir.

Italy – Tuscany (Chianti, Brunello), Piedmont (Barolo, Barbaresco), and Veneto (Amarone), known for their emphasis on acidity, tannins, and age-worthiness.

Spain – Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorat, and Sherry regions, balancing tradition with modern winemaking approaches.

Germany – Famous for its Rieslings, with a focus on acidity and aging potential.

Portugal – Home to Port and unique regional wines like Vinho Verde.

Difference from Ancient World & New World Wines:

Old World wines evolved from Ancient World traditions but became more regulated, with classifications such as France’s AOC (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée) and Italy’s DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita).

Compared to New World wines, Old World wines prioritize structure, earthiness, and minerality over ripe fruit flavors, and they often require aging to reach their peak.