Argentina is one of the most important wine producing countries in the New World, and the largest producer of wine in South America. The high-altitude deserts of the eastern Andes have given rise to a high-quality wine industry, and the Terroir of this region is well suited to Argentina's adopted Grape variety, the ubiquitous Malbec. Originally from France/bordeaux">Bordeaux, it is now the source of some of Argentina's most famous wines, which are characterized by brilliance and intensity, with Floral">floral notes and black fruit flavors. Covering just over 2.
Australia is an extremely important wine producing country, both in terms of quality and the scale of its wine economy. Wine Australia's 2018 annual report describes it as the sixth largest wine producer in the world. That year's production was 1. 29 million litres (341 million US gallons), split 52:48 between red and white.
Austria - a mountainous, landlocked country in Central Europe - is enjoying a renaissance as a wine nation. It has shaken off decades of controversy caused by a handful of negligent people and has become a model of modern European wine, leading the way in quality and innovation. Balancing tradition and modernity, the Austrian wine industry has retained classics such as Sweet Ausbruch and Strohwein, while actively developing modern, consumer-friendly wines, such as its signature style: Gruner Veltliner, a crisp, Aromatic white wine. Officially, 35 Grape varieties are permitted for the production of Austrian quality wine, of which almost two-thirds are white varieties.
The Belgian market is one of the most successful in France/bordeaux">Bordeaux, and has also played a key role in dictating the 1855 classifications of the Médoc and Graves. Many of the great estates in Bordeaux are - or have been - owned by Belgian wine merchants. For example, one branch of the Flemish Thienpoint family (Jacques) owns Le Pin, while another (his cousin Alexandre) owns Vieux Château Certan. Despite this strong focus on cereal-based drinks, Belgium also has a number of vineyards.
With about 83,000 hectares of Vineyard">Vineyards, it ranks just behind its close neighbours, Argentina and Chile, in terms of cultivated area. Only a small portion (about 10%) of these hectares are planted with Vitis vinifera vines, but this large area does not translate into large volumes of quality wine. Concerted efforts are underway to improve this ratio. Although not yet recognized internationally, the quality of Brazilian wines is increasing year by year.
Bulgaria, while far from the most famous or prestigious of the world's wine-producing nations, certainly ranks among the most prolific. This Eastern European country has a Long history of viticulture, and its wine has more to offer than the sea of cheap reds (mostly Cabernet Grape/sauvignon">Sauvignon) that flowed westward in the 1980s would suggest. The country now has a growing number of promising wine pioneers, but perhaps the most remarkable era of Bulgarian viticulture dates back to the mid-14th century, just before the once-mighty Bulgarian Empire began to fragment and cede Power to the Ottomans. Bulgarian art, more than 1,000 years Old, depicts wine as Part of Bulgarian culture, especially among the ruling classes.
Canada - the world's second-largest country by area - is far from the most obvious of wine-producing nations, yet its vineyards are capable of producing both quality and quantity. Powerful Cabernets and AromaticDryGrape/riesling">Rieslings play an important role in the country's wine portfolio, but the deliciously Sweet Icewine (mostly white, but also red) is unquestionably the quintessential Canadian wine style. Making the most of their consistently cold winter temperatures, Canadian wine producers have become world leaders in ice wine production. The Canadian wine industry is primarily based in four provinces: Ontario and British Columbia, which are responsible for 98% of quality wine production, and Quebec and Nova Scotia, which are emerging wine regions with a small but loyal local following.
Chile is one of the most important wine producing countries in South America. Occupying a thin strip on the west coast of the continent, it is home to a wide range of Terroirs and wine styles. The Chilean wine industry is often associated in export markets with good quality, consistent wines, but some world-class reds are also produced and sell at high prices. For red wines, the first export stalwarts were the France/bordeaux">Bordeaux varieties of Cabernet Grape/sauvignon">Sauvignon and Merlot, Like many New World countries, Chile has adopted an iconic grape variety; here it is Carmenère, once widely grown in Bordeaux.
Croatia is an important wine-producing country on the Adriatic Sea, at the western end of Europe's Balkan Peninsula. Formerly Part of Yugoslavia, it borders Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Montenegro. Export trade, although modest, has grown over the past two decades. The main Croatian styles are Dry white wines of Grasevina (WelschRiesling) and Malvasia, and rustic, Full-bodied red wines.
Cyprus is a wine-growing island in the eastern Turkey/mediterranean">Mediterranean, located 80 km from the Southern coast of Turkey and a little further from the western coast of Syria. Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean. It measures 140 miles (225 km) from east to west and about a third of that distance from North to south. The Cypriot wine industry was at its peak in the Middle Ages and has seen a steady and progressive decline over the following centuries.
The Czech Republic, the western half of the former CzechoSlovakia, is better known for its beer than its wine. However, it produces both in respectable quantities. Czech wine production flourished in the early years of the 21st century. The government offered large subsidies for planting NewVineyards and modernizing obsolete wine-making equipment.
France, home of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne, is arguably the world's largest wine-producing country. For centuries, it has produced more wine - and apparently better quality - than any other country. Wine is embedded in French culture at almost every level of society; it is the drink of the elite and the common people, and a key symbol of Roman Catholicism, the majority religion in France. However, the lasting appeal of French wine is not necessarily its Volume or prestige, but rather the variety of styles available.
Georgia (the Eurasian nation, not the American state) is one of the oldest wine-producing countries in the world. The main wine varieties favored in Georgia are the red Saperavi and the white Rkatsiteli. These are the classic varieties of the former Soviet republics, from Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan to Moldova">Moldova and Ukraine. A number of other long-established varieties are widely grown in the country.
Germany - famous primarily for the world-class Grape/riesling">Riesling produced in its Mosel region - is entering a New phase in its wine history. At the beginning of the 21st century, the country's winemakers are convincingly proving that they are good for more than just Mosel Riesling. High-quality German Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) is now emerging from various regions, including Baden, the Palatinate and even the tiny Ahr Valley. Overlooking a much lesser period of glory - the 1970s and 1980s - Germany has a Long and illustrious history of viticulture.
Greece, a mountainous Turkey/mediterranean">Mediterranean country in Southeastern Europe, is often considered the cradle of Western civilization. Archaeological evidence suggests that wine has been made in Parts of Greece for over 4000 years. References in Homer's Iliad and Odyssey confirm that viticulture was widespread here in the 8th century BC. The importance of wine is also evident in Greek mythology.
Hungary, in Central Europe, has earned its reputation in the wine world with only a few styles of wine, but for centuries it has been a wine-producing nation of considerable diversity. In addition to the Sweet wines of Tokaj and the Bull's Blood of Eger, Hungary's wine range includes Dry whites from the shores of Lake Balaton, Somló and Neszmély, and finer reds from a variety of regions, including Villány, Sopron and Szekszard. Hungarian wine culture dates back to Roman times and has survived many political, religious and economic challenges, including Islamic rule in the 16th century (when Alcohol was banned) and the Phylloxera epidemic in the late 19th century. The modern Hungarian wine regions are spread throughout the country.
Israel is located in the western Part of the Middle East (or Near East), at the eastern end of the Mediterranean. The controversial borders of the modern Jewish state were created following World War II. Its wine industry has its roots in the late 19th century, but has expanded greatly in recent decades. Various varieties of "international" wine grapes have proven themselves in Israel's best Vineyards.
Italy - home of Moscato, Chianti, Amarone and Prosecco">Prosecco - has a Rich and diverse wine heritage that dates back over two thousand years. Famous for its astonishing diversity of Grape varieties and wine styles, Italy is also important for the Volume of wine it produces: just over 4 billion liters (about 1. 06 billion U. S.
Japan is famous for its sake, a rice wine, but Grape wine has been made in Japan for hundreds of years or more. Beer and whisky have also gained a place in the consciousness of modern Japanese, and have even become important contributors to the national economy. Winemaking has a Long history in Japan, and there are several stories surrounding its origins. The most common is that in 718 AD, a Buddhist monk named Gyoki planted the first vineyards at Daizenji Temple, near Katsunuma (southwest of Tokyo).
Lebanon is a Middle Eastern country with an ancient wine culture that has experienced a renaissance in recent decades. In 2011, about six million bottles of Lebanese wine were produced from 2000 hectares (5000 acres) of Vineyards. Modern Lebanese viticulture has moved inland from the ancient Phoenician port cities to the fertile Bekaa Valley. There are also a handful of vineyards near Jezzine, a few kilometres from the Southern end of the Bekaa, just inland from Sidon.
Luxembourg (officially the "Grand Duchy of Luxembourg") is a landlocked country at the junction of Belgium, Germany and France. It is a small country compared to its neighbours, stretching 80 km from North to South and 50 km from west to east, covering just over 2,500 square kilometres. Only 1% of this area is devoted to wine growing. Located in the north of Western Europe, it is one of the coolest wine regions in the world.
The Republic of North Macedonia is a country located in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe. It is quite distinct from modern Greek Macedonia, with which it shares a border of over 160 kilometres (100 miles). The wine industry is dominated by red wines. Production is centered on two indigenous Grape varieties (Vranac and Kratosija), as well as a few international varieties such as the ubiquitous Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.
The Vitis vinifera Vine and the concept of winemaking arrived in Mexico with the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. Before the colony's wine production could meet local demand, wine was imported from Spanish vineyards, which maintained a healthy Flow of ships and trade between Spain and Nueva Espana ("New Spain" as Mexico was called at the time). This trade was so important that the King of Spain, King Carlos II, banned commercial wine production to keep it going. Local wine production was only allowed for ceremonial purposes, but it was this legal exception that kept a tiny Mexican wine industry going until the early 19th century, when Mexico gained its independence from Spain.
Moldova is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, one of many former Soviet states in that region. It is separated from the western shores of the Black Sea by the province of Odessa in Southern Ukraine and Lies just North of Romania and Bulgaria). Moldova gained independence from Russia in 1991. It is now officially called the Republic of Moldova.
The Netherlands is a country in Northern Europe, often referred to as "Holland". The latter is the name of the former county in the western Netherlands where the key cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague are located. Holland is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which includes Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten, its overseas island territories in the Caribbean. To complicate matters further, the demonym for the Netherlands is "Dutch".
New Zealand is an isolated island nation in the Pacific Ocean, about a thousand kilometres Southeast of Australia. It Lies between latitudes 36°S and 45°S, making it the southernmost wine producing country in the world. New Zealand has ten major wine-producing regions spread between the North and South Islands, the most important of which is Marlborough. New Zealand produces a wide variety of wines, the best known of which are the zesty, grassy whites made from Marlborough Grape/sauvignon">Sauvignon blanc.
Portugal has undergone something of a wine revolution over the past two decades, modernizing its winemaking technologies, styles and attitudes. This archetypal Old World country has Long been famous for its fortified wines (Port and Madeira) and its light, tangy Vinho Verde. But it is now attracting much attention for its New wave of Rich, ripe table wines, especially the reds of the Douro Valley. Portugal's place in the wine world is arguably more about its cork production than its wine, but that largely depends on which period of history you choose.
Romania is located at the geographical crossroads between Central and South-Eastern Europe. The Romanian wine industry uses a wide range of indigenous and international red and white Grape varieties. Both vinifera and American grape species are present here, as well as a number of hybrids. The latter are chosen for their resistance to varying Climates.
Russia is the largest country in the world, covering over 17 million square kilometers (6. 5 million square miles). It also spans 143 degrees of longitude (27-170°E) and 41 degrees of latitude (41-82°N). Only the southernmost lands of the country are capable of supporting quality viticulture.
Serbia is a country in Southeastern Europe, geographically the largest of the former Yugoslav states and still the most productive in terms of wine. Like its southern neighbour, the Republic of Macedonia, Serbia is landlocked. It has no less than eight international borders, or potentially nine, depending on whether Kosovo is considered independent. It Lies between the Northern latitudes of 41 and 47 degrees, which places it comfortably in the "wine belt", i.
Slovakia (officially the Slovak Republic) is a landlocked country, described as being either on the eastern edge of Western Europe or on the western edge of Eastern Europe. This dichotomy reflects the state's recent history of frequent political unrest in the region. The land that is now Slovakia was an integral Part of Hungary">Hungary for almost 900 years, but became independent when the Austro-Hungarian Empire was dismantled after World War I. Almost immediately, Slovakia became a part of Hungary.
Slovenia is a small European country with a Long history of wine production. This is not surprising given its Mediterranean location between the Northern latitudes of 45 and 47 degrees, latitudes shared by Bordeaux, Burgundy and the northern Rhône. The country is also bordered by four of Europe's Oldest wine producing countries: Croatia to the South, Hungary to the east, Austria to the north and Italy to the west. Despite the cultural and political turmoil that has besieged the Balkan states over the past century, Slovenia has maintained its wine industry, which has flourished particularly since the country gained independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.
South Africa is one of the most important wine producing countries in the southern hemisphere. With over 300 years of wine making history, it is often described as a bridge between the Old and New Worlds. The majority of wines are produced using New World winemaking techniques, but they often have more stylistic similarities with their Old World counterparts. Since the end of apartheid, South African wine has received international attention and recognition for its wide variety of styles.
Spain is a land of breathtaking scenery, colourful history and a Deep and Complex culture in which wine has Long played an important role. Grapes have been grown on the Iberian Peninsula since at least 3000 BC, although it wasn't until 1000 BC that viticulture really began here - a skill brought by Phoenician traders from the eastern Mediterranean. Today, Spain is home to more vineyards than any other country in the world, and its national wine production is exceeded only by France and Italy. All of Spain's seventeen administrative regions (communidades autónomas) produce wine to some degree, including the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands.
Switzerland may not be the most famous of wine-producing nations, but this small mountainous country in Western Europe has been producing wine for over two thousand years. The lack of awareness of Swiss wine is not due to a lack of quality or quantity, but to the fact that it is produced primarily for (and enjoyed by) the Swiss themselves. But things are slowly changing; the world beyond the Alps is now discovering the high quality of much of Switzerland's Grape/pinot">Pinot noir and white wines made from the country's flagship grape, Chasselas. High-end Vineyards can be found in almost every corner of the country, but the vast majority are in the Alpine Valais and around Lake Geneva, in La Côte and Vaud/lavaux">Lavaux.
Turkey, located on the Anatolian peninsula between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, produces more grapes than any other country in the world. However, only a very small proportion of these grapes are made into wine; as a predominantly Muslim nation, Turkey's per capita Alcohol consumption is very low. The lack of wine production in Turkey is highly ironic, as wine historians believe that viticulture and winemaking originated in this Part of the world. Archaeological projects in Turkey and neighboring countries in the Levant have uncovered evidence suggesting that primitive VineBreeding was part of life here more than 6,000 years ago, which explains the abundance of wine grapes (vinifera).
Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe (the second largest on the European continent, after Russia) bordering Poland to the west, Russia to the east and the Black Sea to the South. By 2014, the Ukrainian wine industry had become a major player in Eastern Europe. But that year, Crimea came under the control of Russia. There are several small wine regions in the country, which contribute to the production.
The UK may not be the best known wine region in the world, but since the 1970s dedicated winemakers and winemakers have been producing high quality wines in England and Wales and winning international competitions. Wine has been produced in the UK since the Imperial Roman occupation in the 1st century, while the UK consumer market has been a major factor in many historic global wine trends, such as the growth of Bordeaux, Sherry and Port. The latitude of the wine regions and the cooler temperatures favour cool Climate, early maturing varieties. Growing conditions are moderated by the Warming effects of the Gulf Stream current that carries warm waters eastward across the Atlantic Ocean.
The United States has confidently come of age as one of the world's leading wine-producing nations. Their reputation may be based on the world-famous Napa and Sonoma, but the U. S. is home to countless lesser-known wine regions that produce world-class wines (obvious examples are Oregon's Willamette Valley and New York's Finger Lakes).
Uruguay is the fourth largest wine producing country in Chile/south-region">South America. Wine Grapes have been grown here for more than 250 years, although commercial viticulture only began in the second half of the 19th century, about two centuries after Chile and Argentina. In recent decades, Uruguayan wine has quietly and steadily emerged on the world wine market, not as dramatically as that of its larger neighbors, but with a promising Balance and confidence. No summary of Uruguayan wine is complete without mentioning Tannat, the robust, Tannic red wine that has played a key role in the country's rise to prominence.