New World wine
/ˌnuː ˈwɝːld waɪn/
geography, classification, style, marketing, history, globalization, education•Last updated December 29, 2025
New World wine /ˌnuː ˈwɝːld waɪn/ refers to wine produced in countries and regions outside Europe’s traditional wine heartlands (the so‑called Old World), notably the Americas, Australasia, South Africa, and many emerging Asian producers. The term is also used as a loose stylistic shorthand for generally fruit‑forward, clearly varietal, and often technology‑driven wines, though these distinctions are increasingly blurred.
Examples
- A Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from California, labeled by grape variety and showing ripe blackcurrant fruit and noticeable oak, is a classic New World wine.
- A Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand—highly aromatic, citrus‑ and tropical‑fruit‑driven, and clearly labeled as Sauvignon Blanc—is typically categorized as New World wine.
- On a restaurant list, bottles may be grouped under headings like “Old World Reds” (e.g., Bordeaux, Rioja) and “New World Reds” (e.g., California Cabernet, Barossa Shiraz, Chilean Carmenère).