WHERE - Wine World Map

Good morning Wine Lovers,

Most people think wine growing started all in France but this is not correct, it started all around the black sea near by Georgia up to the border of Turkey. The oldest vineyards are located in Iraq in the area of Eufraat and Tigris. This vineyard area is established around 3000 before Christ, quite old thus. From there on vineyards were established with Vitis vinifera (another word for grape, remember!) around the South of Europe and North-Africa. Here it started all. 

Climate and weather are the most important geographical factors that influence the grape growth. The location of a vineyard is fundamental to determine where a wine grower will grow his grapes. 

A grape can grow all over the world, but it has it preferences, since growth is important but quality even more. The following will determine the most important factors:

• Sun and warm days - not too hot and not too cold please.
• The best temperature for a grape vine is 14/15 with a minimum of -1 degree. 
• Rain is needed to drink and grow, just a bit and no hail please this will be no good for the skin.  
• Vines are mostly build on slopes of mountains therefore they will be automatically protected to wind and to too much rain. 

All of the above determine where grapes can grow...! Climate per around the world is given, however we can't influence the weather. This is one of the reasons why hail can destroy vineyard totally.

  Below you can find the world map. The locations where the grape can grow is around the Northern hemisphere around California, USA to southern Europe like, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France and Germany. The German Northern vineyards are the outmost limit to grow grapes. In the Southern hemisphere vines can grow in South America, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

The above factors have a greater influence on the quality on the wine. It can have such an effect that a Sauvignon Blanc from France can taste totally different compared to the Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. The reason why it can taste different is due to the climate difference! The climate and geographical areas can be classified in one of the most important aspects of Terroir. 

Terroir is a term which covers climate, location, aspect and soil. At the moment we have covered the first two aspect. I will explain lateron more about aspect and soil.

I truly hope you have learned again a bit more about wine!

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Enjoy your Thursday,

Annalia