Old World versus New World Wines

Many divide the wine into two categories: Old World and New World. 

Old world refers to Europe and the Mediterranean, countries like France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Turkey and Germany.  Old world wines are more terroir driven, generally softer and subtler wines.  Often earthy and subdued, Old World producers rely more on geography and tradition than technology. Old World wine tradition goes back several thousand years to the Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans.

Vitis Vinifera or wine vines were introduced to the New World during the Age of Exploration in the 15^th, 16^th and 17^th Centuries. They were planted primarily by missionaries who followed the explorers, bringing with them vines to make wine for religious purposes.

The New World style is more fruit driven with bold flavors.  New World wines include wines from the U.S., Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Many of these countries and growing regions are located in warmer climates, which produce riper wines. In the New World there is predominant culture of change and experimentation in wine making styles compared to the Old World, where winemakers are constrained by strict local regulations. In the New World, through technology and science, winemakers are able to adapt more.  The varietal and winemaker play an important role in New World winemaking, where in the Old World weather and environment are regarded as forces that determine the outcome of a vintage. 

While the Old World is very much steeped in tradition there has been some crossover in the past few years, more Old World producers are embracing some of the wine making techniques and technology conceived in the New World.  At the same time many New World wine makers are intentionally creating wines in an Old World style, with less manipulation and earlier harvests.

On a personal level, I find the wines from the Old World to be more food friendly.  French wines for instance, wines pair perfectly with their regional dishes.  Red Burgundy and coq au vin,  Cahors and Cassoulet are great examples.  New World styles tend to work better as quaffing wines.  Most inspiring to me are the New World wine makers who successfully create wines in an old world style, I find myself in constant search of a New World wine that breaks out of the big, oaky, fruity, high alcohol mold.  

Our new Menu launches today, featuring wines from all over the world.  Stop by the Barrel Room to participate in our passport program and try wines from around the globe, including Greece, South Africa, Australia and Slovenia.  Taste for yourself the difference between the Old World and New. 

Cheers!
-Carolyn