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Last Updated: Mar 12, 2026Old World
Old World
The term “Old World’ refers to wines produced in traditional European regions, primarily France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Germany. These regions have winemaking traditions that span centuries, often regulated and family led. Old World wines are typically higher in acidity, with lower alcohol, earthy and savory flavors. They are frequently labeled by their specific region or AOC (e.g., Bordeaux, Chianti, Mosel), rather than grape variety.
See Also
GSM
GSM stands for a popular red wine blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre, originating the Rhône Valley in France.
Jeroboam
A Jeroboam is a large format wine bottle that holds either 3 liters (4 standard 750 ml bottles) in Champagne and Burgundy, or 4.5 liters (6 standard bottles) in Bordeaux.
Clone
A clone is an exact genetic copy of a vine, propagated asexually through cutting and grafting.
Vintage
The term "vintage" refers to the year in which the grapes of a particular wine were harvested. A wine's vintage reflects the unique weather and growing conditions of that season, heavily influencing the flavor, quality and character of the wine.
Terroir
Terroir is a French term used to describe the complete environmental, geographical and human factors affecting a wine grape's growth. It includes farming practices, soil, climate and topography, often described as a "sense of place".
Microclimate
Microclimate refers to the unique, localized temperature, humidity, sunlight and wind within a specific area of a vineyard different from the surrounding region. A microclimate allows for distinct and complex flavor profiles within a single vineyard.
Oenophile
An oenophile is a passionate lover of wine, someone who appreciates, studies and often collects wines based on their region, production methods and varietal. Beyond wine drinking, they are interested in the stories behind the labels, often possessing refined tasting skills, able to identify subtle tasting notes. Oenophiles may be wine professional like sommeliers or wine merchants, or passionate hobbyists who frequently attend wine tastings and join wine clubs.
Domaine
"Domaine" refers to a French wine estate, particularly in Burgundy, that owns its own vineyards and makes wines from its own grapes.
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