Leading Wine Producing Countries

South Africa

The Dutch planted wine grapes in South Africa in the 1650s. It's sweet dessert wines gained international renown in 1700s. South Africa only recently began producing significant amounts of red and white table wines for the world market. Red wines are made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz. White wines are made from Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, and Sauvignon Blanc.

North America

In the United States, wine production is an important industry only in California, Oregon, Washington, and New York. U.S. winemakers operate with more freedom from bureaucratic restrictions than European winemakers. In the U.S. winemakers plant whatever grape variety they wish wherever they wish to plant it, and they blend grapes from different regions together as they like.

California

Premium wines are made up and down the whole length of California. The most important red grape varieties are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Zinfandel. The most important white grape varieties are: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon.

Oregon

Unlike California, Oregon has no mountains standing bewtween the Pacific Ocean and its vineyards. This brings cooler temperatures and more rain to Oregon grapes. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the most abundantly planted grapes in Oregon, but Pinot Gris has been making headway for several years.

Washington

Although Washigton and Oregon are neighboring states, their wine growing regions have significantly different climates because the Cascade moutnain range separates most of Washington's vineyard land from the coolness and moisture of the Pacific Ocean. Washington's most prolific grape varieties are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon.

New York

New York's most important wine region is the Finger Lakes area in the western part of the State. And its most important grape variety is Reisling, though other lesser known grapes (e.g. Concord and Catawba) are grown as well.

South America

Argentina

Argentina produces more wine than any other South American country. Vineyards were planted their in the 1500s with grapes from a part of Europe later to be called Italy. White wines are made from Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Reisling,and Semillon as well as lesser known grape varieties such as Pedro Giminez, Moscatel, and Torrontes. Red wines are made from Barbera, Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Lambrusco, Pinot Noir, and Tempranillo.

Chile

Vineyards were started by the Spanish in Chile in the 1500s. In recent years Chiloe has had great success with the French grape varieties of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc. Chile's wines, however, lack the over-the-top fruitiness of California and Australian wines. Many of the red wines are offer fine value, but hte whites can be dilute and watery.

Australia

The wine industry in Australia has made great strides in production and international reputation in the last thirty years. Australia's land mass is nearly equal to the United States but it produces less than half as much wine as California. Red wines are made from Syrah (called 'Shiraz' in Australia) and Cabernet Sauvignon. White wines are made from Chardonnay, Reisling, and Semillon.

Europe

Compared to non-European, or New World wines, Europe's wines have many things in common. They are usually named for their place of production instead of their grape; European winemaking follows more traditional methods; the wines reflect local tastes more than international trends; and the wines are relatively low in fruitiness. European wines embody the traditions of the people who make them and the flavors of eh earth from which they grow, compared to New World wines, which embody a grape variety. --McCarthy & Mulligan (1995). Wine for Dummies, p. 169 (IDG Books: Foster City, CA).

France

France has long set the standards for wines around the world. French wine consumption per person exceed that of any other country. Moreover, France is the place of origin for most of the greatest wine grapes found in other countries including: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah. The wines from France's five greatest wine regions (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Loire, and Alsace) are listed below.

Bordeaux: Red Bordeaux are made from blends of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot, and Malbec.; White Bordeaux are made from Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle.
Burgundy: Red Burgundies are made from Pinot Noir. Beaujolais is made from Gamay.; White Burgundies and Chablis are made from Chardonnay.
Rhone: Red Rhones are made from Carignan, Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, and Viognier.; Whote Rhones are made from Viognier.
Loire: The Loire Valley is a major producer of white wine made from Chenin Blanc, Muscadet, and Sauvignon Blanc.
Alsace: Alsace is a major producer of white eines made from Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Pinot Blanc, and Pinot Gris.

Germany

Germany's cool climate makes it difficult for red grapes to ripen. Thus white wines are produced in much greater quantities. They are made from Riesling and Gewurztraminer grapes as well as less well known varieties such as Silvaner, Kerner, and Scheurebe.

Italy

Italy produces more wine than any other single country. Its best wines come from the northern regions of Piedmont, Tuscany and Tre Venezi, but wine grapes are grown and vinified all over the country. Instead of describing all of Italy's wine producing areas, which would require a lot of space (and effort), Italy's most important wines are lited below along with the grape varieties used to produce them.

Italian Red Wines: Barbaresco is made from Nebbiolo grapes.; Barbera is made from Barbera grapes.; Bardolino is made from Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes.; Barolo is made from Nebbiolo grapes.; Brunello is made from Sangiovese grapes.; Chianti is made from Sangiovese and Canaiolo grapes.; Valpolicella is made from Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes.
Italian White Wines: Soave is made from Gargenaga and Trebbiano grapes.; Other white wines are labelled by grape variety, including: Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, andSauvignon Blanc

Spain

Spain has more acres under vine than any other country in the world. Much of it, however, is mediocre in quality and produced for daily domestic consumption. Thus, Spain's international reputation for wine has been out-shined by France and Italy for a long time. The wine produced in Spain's five most important regions are described below.

Rioja: Red wine from Rioja is primarily made from Tempranillo grapes. Most of it is aged in American oak barrels.
Penedes: Most of Spain's sparkling wines are made in Penedes. Still wines are made from Tempranillo as well as French grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
Ribera del Duero: The best known wines from Ribera del Duero are made from Tempranillo and blends of Tempranillo with Cabernet Sauvignon. In either case they tend to be dark, complex, tannic wines that require many years of aging before they are ready to drink.
Rueda: One of Spain's best white wines comes from Rueda. It is a fresh, crisp, dry wine made from Verdejo grapes.
Rias Baixas: Another intersting Soanish white is made from Albarino grapes. They yield lively, fruity wines of high acidity and depth of flavor.

Old World

New World