What does it mean?
Old World and New World wines
Old World wine, New World wine... it's the sort of reference you might have heard at a wine tasting but never really understood. What do the terms "old world" or "new world" mean, and how can they help you learn more about the wine styles you enjoy?
The terms originally referred to the country in which the wine was produced. However, with Old World countries now producing wines that are characteristically New World, it has come to indicate style rather than region. As a wine lover, you may prefer one over the other, and knowing the difference could open you up to a new world (pun intended) of different varieties and winemakers.
Old World
This term historically referred to wines made by the countries seen as the "original" wine producers, going back thousands of years. This includes Europe – such as France, Italy, Germany, Spain – and the Middle East – like Turkey, Lebanon, Georgia.
Old World wines are made using more traditional winemaking techniques, regulated by stricter rules. For example, all French and Italian wine is structured by a wine classification system.
In Italy, the inclusion of "DOCG", "DOC", or "IGT" on wine labels indicates how closely a winemaker has followed production guidelines in a certain region or for a specific variety.
Many Old World Wines are also named based on the region, such as Bordeaux or Burgundy.
When it comes to flavour, Old World wines tend to be more restrained and elegant, with less punchy fruit and a greater focus on spice, herb characters, and minerality or earthiness. They have lower alcohol and are often more acidic in style.
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RIEDEL The O Wine Tumbler Pinot Noir / Nebbiolo1 bill unit contains 2 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Syrah - Menta1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL Sommeliers Black Tie Grand Cru de Burdeos - Tallo Negro1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Syrah - Turquesa1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Pinot Noir - Rosa1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Syrah - Dragón rojo1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL Sommeliers Black Tie Hermitage - Tallo Negro1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Syrah - Verde1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Pinot Noir1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Pinot Noir - Verde1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL Veloce Pinot Noir / Nebbiolo1 bill unit contains 2 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Pinot Noir - Dragón rojo1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Pinot Noir - Negro1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Pinot Noir - Blanco1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL Veritas Old World Pinot Noir1 bill unit contains 2 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Syrah - Rosa1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Syrah - Amarillo1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Pinot Noir - Naranja1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Pinot Noir - Turquesa1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL GRAPE@RIEDEL Pinot Noir / Nebbiolo / Aperitivo1 bill unit contains 2 pieces.
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RIEDEL Superleggero Hermitage / Syrah1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL Black Series Collector's Edition Grand Cru de Borgoña - rojo - negro1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL Fatto A Mano Black Tie Hermitage - base negra1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Syrah - Azul Oscuro1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Pinot Noir - Azul Oscuro1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Pinot Noir - Menta1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL Vinum Pinot Noir (vino tinto de Borgoña)1 bill unit contains 2 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Pinot Noir - Malva1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Syrah - Rojo1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Syrah - Malva1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Pinot Noir - Amarillo1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Pinot Noir - Rojo1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL Sommeliers Grand Cru de Borgoña1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Syrah1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL The O Wine Tumbler Vino tinto O To Go1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL The O Wine Tumbler Syrah Viejo Mundo1 bill unit contains 2 pieces.
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RIEDEL Sommeliers Grand Cru de Borgoña1 bill unit contains 2 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Syrah - Negro1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Syrah - Blanco1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL Superleggero Grand Cru de Borgoña1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL Fatto A Mano Black Tie Grand Cru de Borgoña - base negra1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
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RIEDEL Winewings Pinot Noir / Nebbiolo1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
Set de aniversario
RIEDEL Vinum Pinot Noir / Nebbiolo1 bill unit contains 4 pieces.
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RIEDEL FATTO A MANO BY RIEDEL Syrah - Naranja1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
New World
The New World essentially refers to any colonised country where winemaking was introduced by the coloniser. This includes Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, and – a growing player on the global stage – China.
New World wines are said to be more experimental because the regions aren't dominated by centuries-old rules about how and where certain wines should be produced. When it comes to flavour, New World wines are typically known to be more "fruit forward". They are bright, bold, and powerfully flavoursome, often dominated by younger or riper fruit. They are less acidic but more alcoholic.
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RIEDEL Veritas Copa de Pinot Noir del Nuevo Mundo / Nebbiolo / Copa de Champán Rosado1 bill unit contains 2 pieces.
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RIEDEL Superleggero Grand Cru de Borgoña1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
Pack individual
RIEDEL Black Series Collector's Edition Montrachet - rojo - negro1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
Set de aniversario
RIEDEL Vinum Syrah / Shiraz1 bill unit contains 4 pieces.
Juego de 2
RIEDEL Veloce Pinot Noir / Nebbiolo1 bill unit contains 2 pieces.
Pack individual
RIEDEL Fatto A Mano Black Tie Grand Cru de Borgoña - base negra1 bill unit contains 1 pieces.
Set de aniversario
RIEDEL Vinum Pinot Noir / Nebbiolo1 bill unit contains 4 pieces.
Juego de 2
RIEDEL The O Wine Tumbler Nuevo Mundo Pinot Noir1 bill unit contains 2 pieces.
Juego de 2
RIEDEL The O Wine Tumbler Syrah / Shiraz1 bill unit contains 2 pieces.
Juego de 2
RIEDEL GRAPE@RIEDEL Pinot Noir / Nebbiolo / Aperitivo1 bill unit contains 2 pieces.
Juego de 2
RIEDEL Vinum Pinot Noir (vino tinto de Borgoña)1 bill unit contains 2 pieces.
As wine regions, techniques, and tastes have changed, the terms have evolved to refer to the wine style, and knowing which one you prefer can help you experiment with new wines with less risk.
We spoke to him about the different styles and how they are evolving.
Check out Armadale Cellar's website, or visit them at 813-817 High St, Armadale 3143 for more of Phil's expertise.