Those of us in the industry throw around these terms frequently, but does the average wine consumer know what the heck we're talking about? I'm not sure about that. So here's a quick primer. There are loads of great articles and books out there that explain the differences in depth if you're interested.
There are exceptions, of course, but Old and New World countries use many of the same grapes. White grapes would be Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chenin Blanc, and Pinot Gris (Grigio). Red grapes would include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah (Shiraz), Malbec and Pinot Noir.
Old World Countries: France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Portugal.
New World Countries: US, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and Chile.
Old World wine characteristics: more elegant, more structured, less bold, less fruit forward, more acidic, higher minerality, lower alcohol and more "earthiness". Earthiness is typically related to the climate and soil (terroir) of the region, although the winemaking technique has an influence too.
New World wine characteristics: bigger bolder wines, more fruit forward, less acidic, higher alcohol and less minerality and earth qualities.
Of course nothing is "hard and fast" in the world of wine. We always see Old World winemakers dabbling with making their wines in a "New World" style, and the same goes for New World winemakers trying to go "Old World".
Old World wines tend to pair better with most foods whereas New World wines are more enjoyable all by themselves. I prefer Old World wines with my meals, but, as usual, we have exceptions. Nothing goes better with a New York strip or rib eye than a big, bold Napa Cabernet!
Tom
No comments:
Post a Comment