Welcome to Wine Geography, a site for wine lovers across the globe. Wine Geography provides basic wine industry research for every major wine producing country in the world. Find out what wines are a must try, be fluent in local and regional wines, and make your interaction with wine makers, sommeliers, and other wine lovers more enjoyable. We want you to get the most out of your wine experience whether you're traversing Europe or perusing your grocery store wine section.
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In keeping with the spirit of renewal in the South African wine industry, 40% of the vineyards in recent years were replanted as the industry realigned its product to compete globally, moving from volume production to noble cultivars and quality wines.
The Australian wine industry is the world's fourth largest exporter of wine with approximately 750 million litres a year to the international export market with only about 40% of production consumed domestically.
New Zealand wine is largely produced in ten major wine growing regions spanning latitudes 36° to 45° South and extending 1,600 kilometres (990 mi). They are, from north to south
Don’t skip over the Greek section of the wine list (or the Greek aisle in the wine store) just because you can’t pronounce the grapes. A few years ago, you probably didn’t know how to say Viognier or Grüner Veltliner, either. Santorini’s white wine Assyrtiko
Europe is the most famous continent in the world for wine production. Not only does Europe have the longest history of winemaking, but the countries of Europe produce some of the finest wines in the world.
Italy has more than 300 DOC and the more strict DOCG zones but two regions stand out: Piedmont, in the northwest, where the Nebbiolo grape yields powerful, long-lived Barolo and Barbaresco wines; and Tuscany, home of the Sangiovese grape, responsible for two of Italy's most acclaimed wines-Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino.
Spain has over 2.9 million acres planted—making it the most widely planted wine producing nation in the world, but it's the 3rd leading producer of wine in the world, the largest being France followed by Italy.
For most American wine lovers Portuguese wine means Port, the rich fortified Portugal wine made in the hot, dry Douro Valley in the northern part of the country. But the past decade has witnessed a greater flow of high-quality table wines,
German wine is primarily produced in the west, and many of the best vineyards cling to steep, south-facing slopes along the river valleys of the Rhine and Mosel and the Mosel's Saar andRuwer tributaries, with the oldest plantations going back to the Roman era.
Most experts agree, France produces the most "Fine Wine" of any country on earth. Centuries of experience have honed winemaking into firmly rooted traditions that are admired and emulated around the world.
Though it may still be a struggle to find fine South American wine on the wine list of a top restaurant in London, informed wine enthusiasts and professionals know how the growing reputation of this continents’ s wines, especially Argentina and Chile, is fully deserved.
While there is some wine production in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Cordoba, and La Pampa, the vast majority of wine production takes place in the far western expanse of Argentina leading up to the foothills of the Andes. The Mendoza region is the largest region and the leading producer, responsible for more than two-thirds of the country's yearly production, followed by the San Juan and La Rioja regions to the north.
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Chile is the fifth largest exporter of wines in the world, and the ninth largest producer. The climate has been described as midway between that of California and France. The most common grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carmenere.
Climate is the biggest challenge facing vintners in most states. Traditional EuropeanVitis vinifera grape varieties don't thrive in hot humid summers and cold winters causing winemakers in many states to choose hardier native American or French-American hybrid grapes.
Washington produces wonderful wines, but the region is hard to define due to its diversity in terroir. It’s diversity in wine production contrasts with the more unified image of regions like Chile and S. Africa.
Everyone knows Oregon wines mean one thing: Pinot Noir! Indeed, 53% of the state’s 31,000 ton production in 2010 came from the ancient french grape (first described by the Romans in the 1st century AD).