This document provides information on various wine regions around the world. It discusses the American Viticultural Area (AVA) system and important American wine varieties and regions like California, Oregon and Washington. It also profiles international wine regions like Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Lebanon and more. Key details are provided on popular varieties and styles produced in different places.

2. U.S.A.
Washington
Oregon
California
Virginia

3. AVA
American Viticultural Area
• The US federal government began developing this system in the
early 1980s.
• AVAs are theoretically defined by geographic, climatic boundaries
and historic authenticity, although there is some overlap of
borders.
• The system requires no limitations on varieties planted, yealds, or
other specifics like AOC or DOC.
• A minimum of 85% of the grapes in a wine labelled with an AVA
come from that region.
• if the wine is a varietal, a minimum of 75% of the named variety
must come from the named AVA.
• Neither the expression ‘AVA’ nor ‘American Viticultural Area’
appears on wine labels.

4. MERITAGE
• Name coined in 1981 for American wines made in the image of a
bordeaux blend.
• This trade-marked name is legally available on labels only to American
wineries that agree to join the Meritage Alliance and for wines that are
made exclusively from two or more of the varieties Cabernet
Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot grapes for
red wines and Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, and Muscadelle for whites.
• Nearly but not all of the members are in California.
• The term is now relatively rarely used in California but is common in
other US states such as Virginia.

5. CALIFORNIA
Sonoma
Napa
Alexander Valley
Russian River
90% OF U.S.A. PRODUCTION
IS MADE IN CALIFORNIA

6. Cabernet Sauvignon
Pinot Noir
Sangiovese
Syrah
Merlot
Zinfandel
Chardonnay
Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon Fumè

7. The Fog

9. SONOMA COUNTY

11. Pinot Noir
The cooling
breeze from the
Ocean

12. ZINFANDEL
• It is the best-known California name of the black grape variety known
in its native Croatia as Tribidrag and in Puglia as Primitivo.
• California grows far more of the variety than anywhere else: nearly
19,433 ha in 2012.
• Many of those who participated in the California gold rush of 1849
turned to agriculture, often dependent on shipments of plant material
from the East Coast.
• Zinfindal was included in a particularly important consignment which
arrived in 1852 and by 1859 the variety was grown in both Napa and
Sonoma.
• Dry Creek Valley in Sonoma has demonstrated a particular aptitude for
this underestimated variety.

14. Oregon: Burgundy climate
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Semillon

16. WALLAWALLAAVA

19. WASHINGTON
COLUMBIA V.
WALLAWALLA
PINOT NERO
SAUVIGNON
CHARDONNAY
RIESLING

20. VIRGINI
A
CAB SAUV
MERLOT
ALBARINO
BERBERA
NEBBIOLO
TANNAT
CHARDONNAY
PINOT GRIS
RIESLING

21. New York State
(Finger Lakes Region)
In 1951 Dr. Frank
successfully grew and
produced wine from Vitis
vinifera grapes such as
Riesling, Chardonnay,
Gewürztraminer, Pinot
Noir and Cabernet
Sauvignon.

23. 49°
CANAD

24. VQA
Vintners Quality Alliance
• It was initially formed as a voluntary organization to identify wines
made entirely from grapes grown in Canada, as opposed to the many
on sale that are merely blended or bottled there.
• Today Ontario and British Columbia’s VQA appellation systems are
legally enforceable.
• The word Icewine has been trademarked by VQA Canada which
imposes the world’s most stringent standards on the production of ice
wine.

25. VIDAL
• It’s a white grape variety and a French hybrid more properly known as
Vidal Blanc or Vidal 256 and widely grown in Canada, where it is
particularly valued for its winter hardiness.
• It is a hybrid of Ugni blanc and Seyval Blanc. The wine produced, like
Seyval’s, has no obviously foxy character and can smell attractively of
currant bushes or leaves.
• Its slow, steady ripening and thick skins make it particularly suitable
for sweet, late-harvest (non-botrytized) wines and icewine, for which
it, with riesling, is famous in Canada.
• Vidal-based wines do not have the longevity of fine Rieslings,
however.

26. ICE WINE (VIDAL OR RHINE RIESLING)
Harvest in December-January

30. CHILE

31. CHILEAN QUALITIES
FEATURES
SUNNY CLIMATE, NO
POLLUTION, THE GRAPES
RIPE WELL
LOW HUMIDITY, HIGH
LIGHTNESS
COOL NIGHTS
LONG RIPENING SEASON

32. The Humboldt Current

34. MAIPO VALLEY
Cabernet S/Merlot/Pinot Nero
Carmenere
Chardonnay
Sauvignon
Semillon
RAPEL VALLEY
Cabernet S/Merlot
Carmenere
Chardonnay
Sauvignon
CURICO’ VALLEY
Cabernet S/Malbec/Pinot Nero
Carmenere
Chardonnay
Sauvignon
Riesling
Gewurztraminer
COLCHAGUA
Merlot
Carmenere

35. CARMENERE
• Is a very dark-skinned grape variety with its parent being cabernet
franc. It yields small quantities of exceptionally deep-coloured, full-
bodied wines that can taste decidedly herbaceous if the grapes are not
completely ripe.
• In chile, plantings had reached 10,000 ha by 2012, particularly as a
result of correct vine identification in 1994 as substantial proportion
of the vines previously believed to be Merlot.
• It ripens even later than Cabernet Sauvignon and if yields are limited,
has the potential to make very respectable wines, combining some of
the charm of Merlot with the structure of Cabernet Sauvignon,
although for many winemakers it is best as an ingredient in a
bordeaux blend.

36. ARGENTINA

38. MENDOZA
(500-1000mh)
MALBEC, TORRONTES
CABERNET S., MERLOT,
CARMENÈRE,
SYRAH, PINOT NOIR
TEMPRANILLO
CHARDONNAY
GEWURZTRAMINER
CHENIN
TREBBIANO
PATAGONIA
PINOT NOIR

39. • Black grape variety once popular in Bordeaux, still the backbone of
Cahors.
• In cooler climates Malbec has some of the disadvantages of Merlot
(sensitivity to coulure, and spring frost) without as much obvious fruit
quality.
• At one time, especially before the predations of the 1956 frosts,
Malbec was quite popular in Bordeaux and is still permitted by all
major red bordeaux appellations.
• In Argentina Malbec is now planted on more than 31,000 ha all over
Argentina, making it the country’s most planted variety by far.
• The wines are generally much more ripe and velvety than their French
counterparts, although they are similarly capable of extended ageing
and there is now a will to make rather more delicate, fragrant Malbecs.
MALBEC

40. • It is the most planted white wine grape after the Pedro Giménez.
• Torrontés Riojano, (7,683 ha in 2011) is a natural cross of Muscat of
Alexandria and Criolla Chica (California’s Mission).
• The fragrant Torrontés Riojana can be over-alcoholic and bitter but
when carefully grown and vinified, can produce wines with high
acidity and aromatic, in a way reminiscent of Muscat, although much
is also used for blending.
• Grown all over the country but better results are seen in the high,
sandy vineyards of Cafayate (1,600 m asl) here its high natural acidity
and assertive flavour are particularly distinguished.
• Torrontés Sanjuanino is less aromatic, and has bigger berries and
more compact clusters.
• Torrontés Mendocino is most common in Río Negro province in the
south, and lacks Muscat aroma.
Torrontés

41. TANNAT
CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MERLOT, SYRAH
AROMATIC WHITE WINES - FRESH TREBBIANO
CHARDONNAYAND SAUVIGNON OAK AGED

42. • It’s a distinctive, tough, deep black-berried vine variety most
famous as principal ingredient in Madiran.
• Although it may owe its French name to its high tannin content,
the vine may well be Basque in origin and, like Manseng, was
taken to Uruguay by Basque settlers in the 19th century.
• In Uruguay, where it has been called Harriague after its original
promulgator, there were more than 1,800 ha in 2013.
• Strategies for softening the grapes’ tannins include blending with
such grapes as Pinot Noir and Merlot as well as all the usual
winemaking techniques (short maceration, and micro-
oxygenation). Port and Beaujolais styles have also been made
from it.
TANNAT

46. PRODUCTION ZONES
Geographical Unit (e.g. Western Cape), Region (e.g. Coastal), which
may represent a merging of several districts, District (e.g.
Stellenbosch), and Ward (e.g. Bottelary).

47. • The WO legislation ws introduced in 1973, and variously updated since
then, ended decades of confusing labelling.
• A wine may also be ‘certified’ for vintage provided at least 85% comes from
one harvest.
• For a wine to be labelled as a single varietal, it must contain at least 85% of
the variety stated.
• A certified wine is identified by a seal which contains a tracking number
enabling the authorities to trace every component batch or variety (in the
case of a blend) back to the vineyard and the date of harvest.
• Vineyards are subject to inspection and wines may be monitored in the
cellars.
• Participation is voluntary and around 60% of the country’s wine production
is now certified.
• Although the WO regulations borrow from France and Germany, there are
no rulings on crop yields, fertilizer quantities, or irrigation levels.
Chaptalization and all other forms of enrichment are banned, although grape
juice concentrate may be added as a sweetener to most wines and
acidification is permitted.
Wine of Origin (WO)

48. South African climate, like
mediterranean climate:
warm summer and mild
winter; frost is very rare

49. • The vine is vigorous and has a tendency to bud early and ripen late,
both of which are highly inconvenient attributes in the cool climate but
hardly noticeable characteristics in the hotter vineyards of South
Africa.
• It is prone to botrytis bunch rot—usefully so for late-harvest styles.
• South Africa in 2012 had a total of 18,200 ha of Chenin planted.
• On the Cape, Chenin is prized for its acidity, productivity, and good
resistance to disease and wind.
• The vine may have been one of the original collection imported in
1655 by Jan van Riebeeck.
• A dedicated band of Chenin Blanc specialists has emerged in South
Africa, focusing on the best sites and on restoring to high-quality
production old vineyard blocks.
CHENIN BLANC
OR STEEN

50. STELLENBOSCH DISTRICT MAINLY
RED WINES FROM CABERNET SAUVIGNON,
FRANC AND MERLOT, FOLLOWED BY
PINOTAGE (CROSS PINOT NOIR + CINSAUL)
IMPORTANT WHITE WINES ARE MADE FROM
SAUVIGNON AND CHARDONNAY
PAARL DISTRICT
CHENIN BLANC (STEEL)
CHARDONNAY
PINOTAGE
CONSTANTIA
SAUVIGNON BLANC / SEMILLON
VIN DE CONSTANCE - GRAN CONSTANCE
(Muscat)

53. RIESLING, CHARDONNAY, SEMILLON, SAUVIGNON BLANC, TRAMINER,
CHENIN BLANC
SHIRAZ, CABERNET SAUVIGNON & FRANC, GRENACHE, MERLOT, PINOT
NOR
AUSTRALIAN PRODUCTION
South Australia: 47.7%
New South Wales: 29%
Victoria: 18.5%
Western Australia: 4.3%
Other States: less than 1%
28% Shiraz
17% Chardonnay
17% Cabernet Sauvignon
6.2% Merlot
4.6% Sauvignon Blanc
3.7% Semillon
23.5% Other Varieties

54. Barossa Valley: The warm Barossa Valley
(fourth-largest region) produces powerful styles of
Shiraz and high-quality Rhône-style blends, Cabernet
Sauvignon, and other varieties.
Eden Valley: Eden is higher in elevation and significantly cooler. Here
Shiraz and Riesling tends to have more lift and acidity.
McLaren Vale: Produces slightly more structured Shiraz wines than
Barossa Valley but Grenache is a rising star here, particularly when
sourced from cooler, higher vineyards.
Clare Valley: Like Eden Valley, Clare excels with both in Shiraz and
Riesling.
Coonawarra: Australia’s most famous vineyard soil, the red clay loam-
over-limestone terra rossa, is frequently cited as key to Coonawarra’s
terroir especially for Cabernet Sauvignon.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA

55. Yarra Valley: A cooler, bucolic region near Melbourne, Yarra Valley
produces top examples of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and lighter styles of
Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah/Shiraz.
Mornington Peninsula: Very cool region because of it’s proximity to
the Southern Ocean, producing very good Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Rutherglen: Some of Australia’s best fortified wines are produced
from Muscat and Muscadelle grapes
in this hot, inland GI.
VICTORIA

56. Hunter: Semillon and Shiraz here are the best grapes, especially in
Hunter Valley. Climate is subtropical because of the northernly
location, however the wines producerd here are generally lighter in
both structure and alcohol than elsewhere in the state.
Canberra District: Shiraz and Shiraz-Viognier are very well grafted
here. Canberra is the nation’s capital city. Near by we find the Snowy
Mountains, the tallest peaks in the Great Dividing Range.
NEW SOUTH WALES (1788)

57. Western Australia: Produces less than 5% of the country’s wine.
Margaret River: It’s the most famous region here, very famous for
Bordeaux blends and Chardonnay.
Tasmania: Located 300 miles off Victoria’s southern coastline
produces less than 1% of the country’s wines.Thanks to the Southern
Ocean, the climate here is very cool, helping to the production of
some of the very best examples of traditional method sparkling
wines made mainly by Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

58. SHIRAZ: BAROSSA VALLEY, COONAWARRA, HUNTER VALLEY,
VICTORIA STATE, ADELAIDE.
CABERNET: COONAWARRA, BAROSSA
CHARDONNAY, SEMILLON, RIESLING, SAUVIGNON: HUNTER
VALLEY, ADELAIDE
MARGARET RIVER EUROPEAN STYLE SAUVIGNON SEMILLON
CABERNET SAUVIGNON MERLOT SYRAH
YARRA VALLEY PINOT NOIR

59. NEW ZEALAND
From sub-tropical Northland to the world’s most southerly
grape growing region Central Otago

60. HAWKES BAY
MARTINBOROUGH
MARLBOROUGH
WAIRAPA
CANTERBURY
GINSBORNE
CENTRAL OTAGO
NORTH
SYRAH
CABERNET S MERLOT
SAUVIGNON
CHARDONNAY
SEMILLON
CHENIN BLANC
SOUTH
PINOT NOIR
GEWURTZTRAMINER
RIESLING

61. SAUVIGNON STYLE IN
NEW ZEALAND
FRUITY, HERACEOUS (NETTLE)
MINERAL, FRESH. MEDIUM BODY

62. HAWKES BAY
MARTINBOROUGH
MARLBOROUG
H
CENTRAL OTAGO
SAUVIGNON
Fruity (nectarine),
herbaceous
Mineral and slightly
salty

63. MARTINBOROUGH
CENTRAL OTAGO
PINOT NOIR
Spicy and mineral

64. LEBANON
The latitudes of the Lebanon on the eastern Mediterranean coast may seem too low for high-
quality wine production, but the Bekaa Valley on an inland plateau as high as England’s tallest
mountains eases the temperatures considerably and can yield some very exciting red wines.
Chateau Musar is the label best known outside the Lebanon and its bordeaux-like structure (filled
out with much headier Cabernet Sauvignon and Cinsaut fruit than the Médoc is ever likely to
produce) was inspired by a visit to the Bartons of St-Julien. Whites tend to flab (although Musar
is working on his) but some very respectable dry rosés are also made by producers such as
Kefraya and Ksara

65. CHINA

66. CHINA
Wine consumption has grown dramatically since the
economic reforms of the 1980s and China is now
numbered among the top ten global markets for wine.
Ties with French producers are especially strong and
vineyards in Ningxia have received international
recognition.
.

68. CHINA
Wine-producing regions include Beijing, Yantai, Zhangjiakou in
Hebei, Yibin in Sichuan, Tonghua in Jilin, Taiyuan in Shanxi, and
Ningxia.
The largest producing region is Yantai-Penglai; with over 140
wineries, producing 40% of China's wine.
Red wine has become a symbol of the elite and rich and is usually
used as a table wine.
90% of wine consumed since 2007 has been red wine.

69. JAPAN
The main region for winemaking in Japan is in Yamanashi Prefecture which accounts for 40%
of domestic production, although grapes are cultivated and wine is also produced in more
limited quantities by vintners from Hokkaido in the North to Miyazaki Prefecture on the
Southern island of Kyushu.

70. JAPANESE
GRAPES
Imported wine grape cultivars include Müller-Thurgau, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet
Sauvignon. The Koshu grape used in the production of white wine, has however evolved
locally over many centuries and is therefore considered a local varietal.
Koshu is a white wine grape variety grown primarily in Yamanashi Prefecture.
The grape varietal developed from vines likely imported from the Caucasus through the Silk
Road, at a period estimated to be around a thousand years ago.
The grape is a hybrid variety indigenous to Japan, and benefits from a relatively thick skin able
to withstand the damp of the Japanese Summer.