This page briefly takes a look at some of the world’s larger wine producing nations.
Spain
Spain has a lengthy history of winemaking. Like most of the Mediterranean countries from this area, wine production started with Greek settlers, and was later (1st century) developed further by the Romans. Even with this long history of winemaking, Spanish wines were by and large not promoted outside of the country until recently. Now, thanks to modern marketing, Spain has become one of the worlds largest producers of wine, with over 3,934,140 metric tons of it produced in 2005 alone
Notable Wine Regions of Spain
- Campo de Borja
- Navarra
- Penedès
- Rías Baixas
- Ribera del Duero
- Rioja
- Toro
Notable Varietals
- Airén
- Bobal
- Granacha Tinta
- Tempranillo
- Verdejo
America
Winemaking in the US dates back to the 17th century, when the first Vitis Vinifera vines were planted in what is now New Mexico. The first Californian vineyards were started by the Spanish in 1769. The first winery in Napa Valley was founded in 1889 by Charles Krug. Today, California accounts for 90% of all American wine production, which is ranked fourth in the world with 2,232,000 metric tons of it produced in 2005.
Notable Wine Regions in the U.S.
- California
- New York
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Washington
Notable Varietals
- Chardonnay
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Pinot Noir
- Riesling
Australia
By the early 1800’s, settlers in Australia had successfully managed to cultivate vines for winemaking. By the 1820’s, wine was available for sale domestically. Today, Australia is one of the largest producers of wine world wide, with exports exceeding four hundred million litres. Australia now exports more wine to the UK than France
Notable Wine Regions in Australia
- Big Rivers
- North West Victoria
- Lower Murray
Notable Varietals
- Chardonnay
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Syrah
- Riesling