Vitis Vinifera is the main grape used to make wine. The blanket name given to wine-making grapes is "noble grapes." These include white grapes and red grapes. The white grapes are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Pinot Grigio. The red grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Grenache. These are just the main grapes. In reality, there are over one thousand different grape varieties.
Even though wine comes from all corners of the globe, it has two distinct categories. These are the traditional wine-making countries and the newer wine-making countries. Traditional countries are referred to as Old World. Countries that have only turned to wine-making in more recent centuries are called New World. Old World countries tend to be based In Europe, but also include areas of the Mediterranean and North Africa. The most well known Old World Wine comes from the likes of France, Spain, Italy and Germany. New World wines are produced in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and elsewhere.
In France the most famous wine-producing region is Bordeaux. Here the red wine is often referred to as Claret. The region is also famous for having the oldest system of wine classification. It dates back to 1855. It consists of ranking the top Chateaus into five stages. However, this is only used on the left bank of the Dordogne. Burgundy is another notorious French wine-making region. Burgundy is famed for producing Chablis. This is a white wine made from the Chardonnay grape.
Spain's equivalent of Bordeaux is known as La Rioja. It is sub-divided into three further areas. These are Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja. The wine made in La Rioja is a mixture of red, white and ros. However, red is the predominant wine produced there. Italy's equivalent wine-region is Chianti. This is located in central Tuscany.
We shall focus on New World wine now. California is one of the biggest New World wine-producing regions. Most wine is produced in Napa or the Sonoma Valley. Cabernet and Zinfadel are commonly grown here. However, California has also established a reputation for numerous varieties of Chardonnay. Many examples are deemed as being over-oaked and bloated.
In Australia the most famous brand of wine is called Jacob's Creek. However, the country has many famed wine-making regions. These include McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley. Both of these are located in Southern Australia. The main grape that is cultivated here is Shiraz. The Hunter Valley is another famed wine region. It is situated in New South Wales and is known for producing Semillon. This is also produced in the Margaret River region of Western Australia.
New Zealand is fast becoming as popular as Australia for their New World wines. It is mostly known for its Sauvignon Blanc. This is produced in large quantities in the Marlborough region. However, Pinot Noir is also becoming steadily more popular in the country. This is generally grown in Central Otago.
Even though wine comes from all corners of the globe, it has two distinct categories. These are the traditional wine-making countries and the newer wine-making countries. Traditional countries are referred to as Old World. Countries that have only turned to wine-making in more recent centuries are called New World. Old World countries tend to be based In Europe, but also include areas of the Mediterranean and North Africa. The most well known Old World Wine comes from the likes of France, Spain, Italy and Germany. New World wines are produced in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and elsewhere.
In France the most famous wine-producing region is Bordeaux. Here the red wine is often referred to as Claret. The region is also famous for having the oldest system of wine classification. It dates back to 1855. It consists of ranking the top Chateaus into five stages. However, this is only used on the left bank of the Dordogne. Burgundy is another notorious French wine-making region. Burgundy is famed for producing Chablis. This is a white wine made from the Chardonnay grape.
Spain's equivalent of Bordeaux is known as La Rioja. It is sub-divided into three further areas. These are Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja. The wine made in La Rioja is a mixture of red, white and ros. However, red is the predominant wine produced there. Italy's equivalent wine-region is Chianti. This is located in central Tuscany.
We shall focus on New World wine now. California is one of the biggest New World wine-producing regions. Most wine is produced in Napa or the Sonoma Valley. Cabernet and Zinfadel are commonly grown here. However, California has also established a reputation for numerous varieties of Chardonnay. Many examples are deemed as being over-oaked and bloated.
In Australia the most famous brand of wine is called Jacob's Creek. However, the country has many famed wine-making regions. These include McLaren Vale and the Barossa Valley. Both of these are located in Southern Australia. The main grape that is cultivated here is Shiraz. The Hunter Valley is another famed wine region. It is situated in New South Wales and is known for producing Semillon. This is also produced in the Margaret River region of Western Australia.
New Zealand is fast becoming as popular as Australia for their New World wines. It is mostly known for its Sauvignon Blanc. This is produced in large quantities in the Marlborough region. However, Pinot Noir is also becoming steadily more popular in the country. This is generally grown in Central Otago.
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There are plenty of mail order wine resources as well as fine wine london outlets where you can purchase prime examples of the wines mentioned in this article.
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