The Five Great New World Wines That Are a Must

MENDOZA WINE REGION IN ARGENTINA

Argentina's vineyards are not only a must in the world's wine regions, they are also the highest vineyards on the planet! With vines that can be planted at altitudes of up to 3,000 metres, the mountain climate brought by the Andes Mountains makes it an ideal place for viticulture. The soil, the altitude, the wind, the exposure to the sun, the humidity, the access to water as well as the diurnal range contribute to the blossoming of berries with ideal properties. Indeed, the large temperature differences between day and night give the grapes sweetness and acidity. These two elements are essential for the production of balanced wines that can be kept for a long time.

It was with the arrival of the railway linking the capital Buenos Aires to Mendoza towards the end of the 19th century that the vineyard developed. The arrival of Italian and Spanish immigrants boosted the Argentinean wine industry thanks to the contribution of new grape varieties, techniques and ancestral know-how. In Argentina, wine is an integral part of the culture and identity of the country. With a terroir similar to that of Burgundy or Champagne, Argentina has something to impress!

AUSTRALIAN SHIRAZ FROM BAROSSA VALLEY

The Barossa Valley vineyard in Australia is world famous for its red wines made from the Shiraz grape variety, a true national star! The hot and dry Mediterranean climate makes the Barossa Valley a favourite place for this grape variety, which loves the sun and heat. The wines of this region are round, generous and full-bodied, making them great wines to keep!

The vineyard took off in the 19th century as the demand for wine in the small colony increased. As Old World wines could not withstand the long boat journeys, it quickly became necessary to develop the wine business in Australia.

Incredibly, while phylloxera destroyed the rest of the country's vineyards in 1890, Barossa Valley was the only one to be spared. This remains a mystery to this day because unlike Chile, whose vineyards were also spared, Barossa Valley is not protected by high mountains such as the Andes. Nor is the vineyard isolated by an ocean, as was the case in Cyprus. Finally, the soil type is not sandy either, which could also have contributed to the protection of the vines. It is therefore in the Barossa Valley vineyard in Australia that we find the oldest Syrah (Shiraz), Grenache and Mourvèdre vines on the planet!

NEW ZEALAND SAUVIGNON BLANC

The Marlborough region, located on the South Island of New Zealand, is not only the country's most important wine region, but also one of the most famous in the world for its cultivation of the Sauvignon Blanc grape. Indeed, this white grape variety originating from the Bordeaux region has found its preferred terroir in the cool New Zealand climate. So much so, that it is really thanks to the exceptional expression of this grape variety on these lands, that the name of Marlborough now resounds in every corner of the world.

The Marlborough wine region began to grow in the 1970s and is now one of the ambassadors of Sauvignon Blanc in the New World. The region is bordered by mountains that protect it from the sea winds and currents coming from Antarctica. The grape variety with its unparalleled minerality expresses a complex and refined aromatic bouquet.

CALIFORNIAN CABERNET SAUVIGNON FROM NAPA VALLEY

Napa Valley is literally known as the 'Disneyland' of wine tourism. This small strip of land, 40 km long and 6 km wide, is home to no less than 800 wineries, ranging from small family estates to large institutions. In this famous valley, whose surface area is 7 times smaller than that of Bordeaux, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are the main grape varieties grown.

The region's winemaking tradition dates back to the first Catholic missionaries who brought a few vines to produce Mass wine. The ideal conditions for viticulture will make Napa Valley the country's main wine-producing region. In fact, more than 85% of the national production is Californian!

GREAT WINES FROM CHILE

It was the conquistadores who brought vines from the Old World to Chile in the 16th century in order to develop viticulture. Despite its predominantly poor soils, the Chilean vineyard is fortunate to have a Mediterranean climate and therefore ideal conditions for the ripening of the grapes and the constitution of the branches. Its great diurnal range, characterized by hot days with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius, as well as by nights with temperatures dropping by half, gives the grapes both strength and freshness.

The Andes mountain range that crosses the country from north to south brings real comfort to Chilean winegrowers, since it protects the winegrowing regions from the most common diseases, such as mildew, to the most devastating, such as phylloxera! Indeed, the Chilean vineyard is one of the only ones in the world to have been spared by the dangerous aphid in the 19th century.