Old World versus New World

A guest recently asked me to explain the difference between old world wines. I was shocked when I realized no one had ever asked me this question before, because it is a very good question with multiple answers. My first instinct was to explain the difference in geographic terms, but I quickly realized my response wouldn’t be complete without touching on style as well.

When we refer to wines from the Old World, we are primarily talking about wines from Europe, but to a lesser extent, this phrase includes wines from Western Asia and the Middle East as well. While wine’s exact origins are still somewhat debatable, evidence suggests winemaking originated in Georgia (the country, not the state) some 8,000 years ago and spread south and west, ultimately evolving into the famous wine regions of Western Europe that we are so familiar with today.

With the ‘discovery’ of the New World, viticulture soon followed, but it wasn’t until the last century that winemaking started to become so wildly popular in North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Due to the relative lack of history, these winemaking regions are collectively referred to as the New World.

However, while geography is often the most important factor in understanding wine, style may provide more clarity with regards to what Old World versus New World really means. It is reasonable to generalize that most wine made in Europe is relatively low in alcohol and high in acidity, with more pronounced savory notes than fruity flavors. This is partly because much of Europe’s climate simply won’t allow for grapes to get any riper, but it is also a stylistic choice. European culture is to drink wine with a meal and it is almost never enjoyed without some sort of food. The two simply go hand-in-hand and the high-acid, low-alcohol style perfectly defines Old World wine.

On the other hand, America’s Napa Valley is a textbook example of what New World style means. The climate is generously warm compared to its French counterpart, Bordeaux, so it is easy for winemakers to craft wines that have more fruit and higher alcohol. This style is able to absorb new oak very well, so many Napa Cabernets are marked by vanilla and other spices. And historically, this is what Americans wanted. Wine is a relatively new phenomenon in a country that is known more for its Coke and whiskey culture, so when drinkers turn to wine in America, many prefer it to be rich and sweet. Napa Valley is one of many appellations that plays into the idea of New World style.

It is important to note that climate change has made ripening much easier in many wine regions that previously struggled to produce fully mature grapes, so it is now possible to make ripe, fruity wines with high alcohol levels in relatively cool climate regions of the Old World. Conversely, a growing number of New World winemakers are consciously trying to make low-alcohol wines that highlight transparency and terroir. While these developments make generalizations less reliable than they once were, Old World and New World are still used fairly regularly when talking about wine. Hopefully you now have a better understanding of what people are trying to convey when they use these terms!