Top wine regions outside Europe

The United States of America

Wine tourism in the United States is usually associated with the Napa Valley or the neighbouring Sonoma County, but wine is grown in each state of the USA (Figures 4.8 and 4.9). The finest wine regions in the USA are also favourite wine tourism destinations:

i. Napa County, California: Napa Valley is the largest wine region in America and home to more highly rated wineries than anywhere else in the country. Wine tourism is exceptionally well developed here, with five star hotels, gourmet restaurants and luxury spas expecting visitors.

ii. Sonoma County, California: Sonoma County lies west of Napa Valley towards the Pacific Ocean. It is often regarded as a more tranquil alternative to Napa County, with fewer crowds and more scenic views. Although several grape varieties are grown here, the region is renowned for California’s famous Cabernet Sauvignon.

iii. Finger Lakes, New York: This wine region lies in the scenic rural New York state, known for its cliffs, gorges and stunning walking trails. Finger Lakes’ wineries can be explored as part of the oldest United States wine trail – the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, established in 1983.

iv. Walla Walla, Washington: There are around 100 wineries spread out across the Walla Walla area, most of which are small boutique estates producing the country’s best Bordeaux-style grape varieties.

v. Texas Hill Country, Texas: This Texas region, with its 46 distinct wineries is popular for wine tours, attracting more than five million visitors annually. Covering almost 5 million hectares, it is one of the largest wine regions in the USA, with vineyards producing mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel.

vi. Willamette Valley, Oregon: This area is settled on the same latitude as Bordeaux in France, and similarly to France, it also produces top quality Pinot Noir wines.

vii. Charlottesville, Virginia: Charlottesville is regarded as the birthplace of American wine. Thomas Jefferson, the former US president planted the first grapes here, while in office. Today there are around 300 wineries in the region renowned for its old-style wines inspired by Jefferson’s vision of viticulture.

viii. Pasa Robles, California: This Californian region has been a popular destination for wine tours in the USA, because of its close proximity to both San Francisco

and Los Angeles. Visitors are attracted not only by its excellent wines, but also by the outstanding beauty of the Santa Lucia foothills.

ix. Snake River, Idaho: Snake River is one of the oldest American Viticultural Areas in Idaho. The region boasts panoramic views of the nearby Owyhee Mountain Ranges and besides visiting the vineyards and tasting its wines, it is an ideal place to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking and white-water rafting.

Figure 4.8. Wine regions in California, USA

Source: https://shop.winefolly.com/collections/regional-wine-maps/products/california-wine-maps

The most famous grape varieties in the USA are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Sauvignon Blanc.

USA States with the most wineries in 2018 Source:

https://vinepair.com/articles/map-america-states-most-wineries/

Wine regions in the USA

https://wicklowwineco.ie/map_maps/united-states-of-america/

Figure 4.9. Wineries and wine regions in the USA

South America: Argentina and Chile

Argentina has the highest growth rate (8% per year) in wine production among the top 5 wine producers in the world. Argentina has about 2000 wineries, many of which are involved in wine tourism, as well. These offer vineyard and winery tours, together with accommodation facilities for tourists coming for wine related experiences. The Argentina Wine Route is an enotourism belt in Argentina that covers approximately 2000 km. This wine route goes through several provinces and wine producing regions of varying altitudes and geographical features.

The following wine producing regions and provinces are considered to be the most important ones in Argentina:

 The Cuyo region, which is the most developed wine region in the country. Its main wine producing provinces are Mendoza, San Juan, and San Luis.

Mendoza, in particular, provides more than 80% of Argentina’s wine production. This region has more than one thousand wineries, with a total area of approximately 150000 ha of vineyards.

 The Pampas (or Center Region) whose main wine producing provinces are Córdoba and Buenos Aires.

 The Andean Northwest, also known as the Argentine Northwest region, where Catamarca, Jujuy, La Rioja, Salta, and Tucumán are the main wine producing provinces.

 The Southern Region (Patagonia) where the main wine producing provinces are Río Negro, and Neuquén.

Figure 4.10. Wine regions in South America

Source: https://grapeoccasions.com/wine/2013/11/exploring-the-wines-of-south-america/

The main grape varieties in Argentina are Malbec, Bonarda, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Chile is proud of its fertile valleys nestled between the mountains and the ocean, which provide the perfect terroir for some of the best wines in the world. Its famous red wine variety is Carménère , which is known as the ‘lost varietal’ of Bordeaux. Wine tourists can enjoy the sights of famous vineyards through the terraced vines, this culture of vine growing and wine production being a deep-rooted element in Chile’s culture and identity. The Chilean wine routes (Rutas del vino chileno) encompass a group of scenic routes throughout the wine regions of Chile, most of which are located in the central part of the country (Valle Central). The first wine route was created in 1996 in Santa Cruz.

The 11 most famous wine routes in the top four wine regions of Chile are:

 Coquimbo Region: Valle del Elqui wine route; Valle del Limarí wine route;

 Aconcagua Region: Valle del Aconcagua wine route; Valle de Casablanca wine route; Valle de San Antonio wine route;

 Central Valley Region: Valle del Maipo wine route; Valle del Cachapoal wine route; Valle de Colchagua wine route; Valle de Curicó wine route;

Valle del Maule wine route;

 Southern Region: Valle de Itata wine route.

The major grape varieties in Chile are Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Carménère, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc.

Australia

Australia is a wine exporting country with its main export markets being in Asia. The most famous grape varieties in Australia are Shiraz (Syrah) and Chardonnay. The country also has several famous wine tourism destinations:

 Western Australia: Margaret River, Swan Valley,

 South Australia: Barossa, Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale,

 New South Wales: Hunter Valley,

 Victoria: Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Milawa, King Valley, Nagambie Lakes Region,

 Tasmania: Tamar Valley, Hobart,

 Queensland.

The most prestigious Australian vineyards are clustered around the coastal areas in the south of the continent, where the Mediterranean climate cooled by sea breezes

produces ideal conditions for good wines. Each of the country’s six states, even the island of Tasmania, has its own identity and viticulture regions that can be visited as part of an Australian wine tour.

Figure 4.11. Australian wine regions

https://www.vintageroots.co.uk/australian-wine-regions/

South Africa

South Africa has long been known for its Chenin Blanc grape variety. The country has 13 wine regions, each of them situated in the Western Cape around the city of Cape Town. The Stellenbosch area is the most well-known of these, and the wine regions of Paarl, Franschoek, and Stellenbosch produce some of the finest wines in the Cape Winelands. The wineries are surrounded by lush mountains and rolling vineyards, offering formal wine tastings or cellar tours and Vineyard Safaris that take the visitor on a Land Rover tour through the vineyards. One of the best ways to experience the region’s winemaking heritage is the Franschhoek Wine Tram. This hop-on, hop-off service transports tourists between selected wine farms on a vintage tram or tram-bus, allowing them to enjoy the spectacular scenery en route.

The most famous grape varieties in South Africa are Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, and Chardonnay.

Figure 4.12. Wine regions in South Africa

Source: https://shop.winefolly.com/collections/regional-wine-maps/products/south-africa-wine-regions-map-poster