Weekly Saturday Tasting

Old World vs New World

Saturday, February 25th
1:00 - 3:00

We haven't revisited this tasting theme since before the pandemic, but before it was always one of the more educational and enjoyable topics for a tasting, and we would explore it usually at least twice a year. I am sure that most of you have used, or at least heard bandied about, terms such as 'Old World' or 'New World' when talking about wines. Many of you may have wondered 'what do these really mean'? The term 'New World' in wine is used quite literally to describe wines coming from newer wine producing countries, such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, South Africa or Argentina; essentially all wine producing countries outside of Europe. The rationale being that these New World countries only started producing wine in the fifteenth, sixteenth or seventeenth centuries, following European exploration or colonization. In contrast, wine has been made in Europe and along the Mediterranean for several millennia.

Figuratively the terms 'New World' and 'Old World' are widely used as descriptive terms to describe or infer a style of wine or wine making practices. Old World wines are traditionally more 'terroir' and structure driven. (Terroir is a French term for how a particular region's climate, soils and aspect (terrain) affect the taste of wine; a wine of terroir is said to taste of where it is from.) Old World wine making philosophies emanated from a sense of place, and the primordial role ascribed to 'terroir' as well as 'mother-nature' in determining wine quality. In contrast, the New World philosophy generally placed less sanctity on the preeminence of 'terroir', and more on the preservation of varietal fruit character, believing that the appropriate harnessing of scientific and technological best practices in the vineyard and in the winery could iron out any 'terroir' imperfections. That is the theory, and while retaining certain truisms, today the dividing line is more blurred, as New World wine producers discover 'terroir' and Old World producers discover 'fruit', adopting many of the technological advances developed in the New World. Join us Saturday where we will sample six wines, with three Old World Examples, and three New World examples of the same grape or similar blends. Come see if you have a preference for one style or the other, or whether (like me) you think both can be delicious!


Pattient Cottat 'Le Grand Caillou' Sauvignon Blanc
Vin de France, 2021

Peju Province Sauvignon Blanc
North Coast, California, 2021

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Vignerons Réunis Bourgogne Chardonnay Cuvée Réserve
Burgundy, France, 2020

Ancien Chardonnay
Carneros, California, 2019

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Vincent Griardin Santenay 1er Cru 'Les Gravières'
Burgundy, France, 2017

Carpe Diem Pinot Noir
Anderson Valley, California, 2017