Old World & New World Wines – What Do They Mean, and How Are They Different?

You’ve probably come across the terms “Old World wine” and “New World wine” before. At first glance, they might sound like technical jargon or marketing terms. But in reality, these phrases carry centuries of history — rooted in colonization, religion, and the global spread of culture.

The idea of “Old World” and “New World” dates back to the Age of Exploration in the 15th century, when European powers began sailing beyond their borders to discover and conquer new lands. To Europeans at the time, everything beyond Europe — the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Oceania — was considered the “New World.” As these colonial powers expanded their reach, they brought with them not just military and political control, but also their culture, religion, and agriculture.

Wine was a part of that cultural package. Because Christianity — the dominant religion of Europe — used wine in its religious rites, colonizers often brought grapevines with them to grow in foreign lands. These vineyards served both religious and economic purposes, helping to establish local wine industries in places that had never seen a vine before.

Over time, people began referring to wines by their place in this historical narrative. Wines from Europe — places like France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Portugal — were considered “Old World.” In some cases, countries in North Africa like Morocco are also grouped with the Old World, due to their long-standing wine traditions and colonial ties to Europe.

On the other hand, any country outside of Europe that adopted wine production later on is considered part of the “New World.” These include the United States, Chile, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and more recently, emerging wine regions in Asia. The distinction isn’t necessarily about quality or taste — it’s about origin, history, and how wine-making traditions were passed down and transformed across continents.

The easiest way to remember it? If it’s from Europe, it’s Old World. If it’s from outside Europe, it’s New World. That’s it. No need to memorize long lists — just keep that simple rule in mind and you’ll already be ahead of most casual wine drinkers.

And in case you’re wondering about Morocco: yes, it’s in Africa — but its wine culture was heavily shaped by French colonial influence, and it has centuries of wine production behind it. So it’s generally considered part of the Old World, too.

Written & Compiled by: Boy Smiling Wine

Understand the difference between Old World and New World wines — then pick the glass that suits you best: