Argentina

One of the top ten producers of wine in the world and the top producer in South America. The Mendoza province accounts for nearly 75% of Argentina's wine production. While Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Bonarda grapes account for their most significant plantings, Torrorntes is Argentina's signature grape for making white wine.

Australia

The world fourth largest exporter of wine with more than 60 designated wine regions. Australia has developed a comprehensive appellation system, which controls its high production standards and protects the reputation of its wines. Australia’s Shiraz (Syrah) and Chardonnay make up more than 40% of the total wine production.  Other grapes produced include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Semillon.

Austria

There are four main wine regions split into 16 districts. The majority of Austria's wine production is based on Gruner Veltliner, Zweigelt and Blaufrankisch.

 

Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth-largest in the world. Yet only a small proportion (about 10%) of the country is planted with vineyards. Brazil's best-known wines are its sparkling whites.

 

Canada

Producing both quality and quantity, Canada turns out Cabernet blends and dry Rieslings, but sweet ice wine (mostly white but some red) is unquestionably the Canadian wine style. Making the most of their reliably cold winter temperatures, Canadian wine producers have become world leaders in ice wine production.

Chile

The fifth largest exporter of wines and ninth largest producer of wine in the world. With six regions and multiple sub-regions, Chile's major estate vineyards of Concha Y Toro, Cousino Macul and Santa Rita produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Carmenere. Best know regions include the Maipo Valley and Cachagua Valley.

China

China is the fifth largest wine producer in the world.

 

France

Considered the world's most important wine region, France is one of the top produces of wine. With more than 450 controlled appellations, France imposes strict rules on winemaking practices to protect the names of French wines and guarantee their quality. Most varieties of grape are primarily associated with a certain region. Because of this, French wine labels generally carry the name of the region instead of the grape varietal.

 

Germany

Germany is among the top ten countries in the world for annual wine production. A little over 60% of the wine produced is white, with Riesling being its most famous. German wine is primarily produced in the west of Germany, along the river Rhine and its tributaries. Approximately 60 percent of the German wine production is situated in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate, where 6 of the 13 regions for quality wine are situated.

 

Greece

The main wine regions are Aegean Islands, Crete, Central Greece, Epirus, Ionian islands, Macedonia and Peloponnese. Native Greek grape varieties such as Assyrtico, Agiorgitiko and Xinomavro are found alongside Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.

 

Hungary

Hungary has 22 wine regions, includes Eger, Nagy Somló, Tokaj and Villány, growing hundreds of varietals, many of which are native to Hungary.

Italy

Italy is one of the world’s largest wine producer by volume. It is divided into 20 administrative regions spanning its geography.  Regions may be known for their own style or its unique grapes. The most significant regions include Tuscany, Piedmont and Veneto. The best known Italian grapes are Sangiovese, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Montepulciano and Pinot Grigio. Wines produced in Italy may be identified by the town or region in which they are produced, the grape varietal or the wine's producer.

 

Moldova

This region, along the Black Sea, lies on the eastern boarder of Romania and claims to have the highest density of vineyards in the world.

 

New Zealand

New Zealand has several major wine regions. The most widely known region is Marlborough that is best known for it Sauvignon Blanc.

 

Portugal

Home to a large number of wine growing regions. Yet Portugal is relatively small; approximately the size of the state of Indiana. But, surprisingly, it has more planted acres of wine grapes than the state of California.  Best know for Port, Portugal is increasingly producing many fine red and white wines.

 

Romania

Romania is one of the top ten wine producing countries in Europe. While many well know grapes are grown in Romania, there are also many local favorites and native grapes.

 

Russia

Russia produces wine of several different styles including still, sparkling and dessert wine. There are over 100 different varieties of grapes used in the production of Russian wines.

South Africa

South Africa is now the eighth largest producer of wine.  The Wine of Origin system used in South Africa is a legal structure introduced in 1972 to acknowledge and protect the diversity of terroir in the country and classifies it into the regions, districts and wards where vineyards are found.  The system mandates how wine regions of South Africa are defined and can appear on wine labels.

Spain

Spain has more vineyard area than any other country in the world, but is third in terms of production.  Wine classifications include Vino deMesa (Table Wine), Vino de la Tierra (Country Wines), Donominacion de Orgin (DO) which are mainstream quality-wine regions, and Denominación de Origen Calificada (DOCa) which are the regions of highest quality wines.

 

Ukraine

Ukraine was the largest supplier of the wines in the former USSR. That changed in 1986 when vineyards were destroyed in a campaign against the over consumption of alcohol in the USSR. Since 2000 the production, as well as the export of the wines, has increased rapidly.

 

Uruguay

Uruguay is home to a proud winemaking tradition in an unusual location, and a far cry from the desert-and Andes-dominated landscapes associated with most vineyard regions in the South America continent.

  • In Uruguay, the dominant factor is the Atlantic Ocean, whose winds, storms, and tides ensure a cool climate.

  • Uruguay is about the same size as the U.S. state of Wisconsin and its population of 3.5 million is roughly that of Connecticut. In terms of planted vineyards (14,804 acres), it’s a little smaller than Alexander Valley in California’s Sonoma Valley.

  • In terms of worldwide production of Tannat (tahn-naht), Uruguay is second only to France. And, in Uruguay, Tannat accounts for 27% of vineyard plantings.

    • In Uruguay, Tannat is also known as Harriague (Ha-ree-AH-gay), surname of the first producer to plant it in the country

  • Other principal grape varieties include:

    • Reds: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc

    • Whites: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Albariño

  • There are 180 active wineries

 

United States

All 50 U.S states produce wine, although 95 percent of it comes from just four of them. California is by far the largest producing five times more than the combined total of the next three which are Washington, Oregon and New York. The remaining 5 percent comes from the other states, led by Texas and Virginia.