Old World Vs. New World Wines: How To Taste The Difference

It’s possible to buy Swiss wine or wine from Argentina at our shop or online store; an example of Old World and New World wines respectively. But what exactly is the difference between these two genres of wine? Many people assume it is a matter of geography, but it’s also a matter of taste, technique, and presentation.

Here’s a closer look at what sets these wines apart, and how you can learn to taste the difference without looking at the label.

The regional differences

Old World wines originate from traditional wine-growing areas such as Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East—many of these regions have been making wine for thousands of years. New World wines are from countries that adopted wine making later, such as Australia, New Zealand, North and South America, and South Africa. 

Climate and terrain differences 

Broadly speaking, Old World wines are from cooler climates that sit further north of the equator, and New World wines are from warmer regions. However, there are exceptions to this rule, such as southern Europe, Morocco for Old World wines, and parts of New Zealand and the USA for New World wines.

Climate change is also having an impact: cooler regions now experience frequent heatwaves that are causing grapes to ripen faster, thus altering the flavour profile of the wines. 

Generally speaking though, wines made from grapes grown in cooler Old World climates, particularly Switzerland, Germany, northern France, and England will be lighter bodied, have a brighter acidity, and more earthy flavours. This is because the grapes take longer to ripen and produce less sugar because of the lower temperatures and sunshine hours.

Old World wines typically have a light colour, and a refreshing crisp and zesty or fruity taste. Red wine from these regions will be lower in tannin content, and have sophisticated savoury or smoky flavours.  

New World wines from a warm climate are higher in alcohol content, and tend to have fuller and bolder flavour profiles. This is because the warm temperatures, long sunshine hours and low rainfall mean the grapes ripen quickly and have a higher sugar content. 

The grapes also tend to have thicker skins, which leads to a stronger coloured wine and higher tannin content in red wines. Flavour profiles include sweeter fruits such as berries, pineapples and apricots, while aged wines may have notes of chocolate or vanilla. 

However, that’s not the whole picture: soil, topography, grape varieties, and wine making techniques also strongly influence the flavour profiles of wine, and these can vary considerably wherever in the world the wine is produced. 

Labelling

Old World wine bottles usually display the region most prominently, such as Bordeaux or Châteauneuf-du-Pape. New World bottles tend to emphasise the grape variety above all else, such as Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc.

Some people develop a marked preference for one style of wine or the other, but many people also appreciate the best of both worlds.