Wine Regions Master List

There’s a trend in winemaking: everything is growing. Wine production is increasing globally. The vineyard area is growing. Winemaking is a big business, and many countries around the globe are finding just the right grapes to grow to fit their climate and geology.

At Prestige Haus, we’ve been doing some deep dives into the top wine-making countries around the world. We’ve given you some history, a breakdown of the most popular regions, as well as grapes and wines you can expect to find from each region. We’ve even given you some ideas of how to best visit the wine regions of the country. We’ve highlighted what wines to sample, and some real hidden gems you may not have known about.

Here are some quick highlights:

• Global wine market size: $417 billion (USD) with 6% annual growth expected
• The country that produces the most wine: Italy
• The country with the most acres of vineyards: Spain
• The country with the most blended wines: Portugal
• The country with the most amazing, scenic tour landscapes: France
• The country with the hottest grape-growing climate: Morocco
• The country with the coldest grape-growing climate: Germany
• Most common grape varietal grown globally: Merlot
• Sweetest wine in the world: Sherry
• Driest wine in the world: Sangiovese (red) and Muscadet (white)
• The country that imports the most wine: the United States
• The country that exports the most wine: France

Below you will find a brief overview of the various topics we have explored here at Prestige, with links to read more. Get your wine glasses out and get ready for an amazing tasting tour of the world!

Is there a country or region that we’ve missed that you’d love to know more about? What country has your favorite wines? Hit us up in the comments!

Argentina

When you think of the top 10 producers of wine in the world, it’s likely that Argentina wouldn’t make your list. But, surprisingly, it’s the 5th or 6th largest wine producer globally (depending on which year and statistic you are reading.) The country makes more than 1.4 million tons of wine from its 220,000 hectares of vineyards.

Like many South American countries, you can thank the Jesuits and missionaries for bringing wine to the country!  Today, most wine is grown and made in the Mendoza region, which produces more than 60 percent of the country’s wine. Argentina’s wine regions are situated among dramatic mountainous and seaside landscapes. It’s a visual paradise!

In Argentina, you can expect dry wines, with Malbec, Cabernet, and Chardonnay most predominant. Regional variations include the Douce Noir of Savoie and Torrontés varieties.

Want to learn more?  View the article here!

Australia

Australia wine is more than Yellow Tail, we promise. In fact, Australia proudly touts its claim as the #8 producer of wine in the world, making 1.2 million tons per year on its 146,244 hectares of vineyards. (Imagine vineyards with kangaroos hopping about picturesquely.)

Australia has a whopping 65 wine regions and 2,156 wineries, giving you a lot to explore if you visit. The largest area is Southern Australia, where 52 percent of the wines are made. Within this region, the Barossa Valley is arguably the most popular.

You can expect to find Shiraz, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes most frequently grown in Australia.

Want to learn more? View the article here!

Austria

As you can imagine, a country nestled in the Alps has the ability to provide not just extraordinary scenery but a wide variety of grape types. The climate is very diverse in Austria, from hot and humid low-lying areas to cold, mountainous regions. Austria has old-world charm and quaint villages combined with the stunning, contemporary architecture of its tasting rooms. A tour of wine country in Austria will impress any sophisticated traveler.

There are four wine regions in Austria, with 46,000 hectares of vineyards. The most popular type of grape is the Gruner Veltliner. This region is known for its ice wines and very sweet dessert wines as well as dry white wines. What makes Austria unique is the fact that most of its aged vines are kept by small family producers. This has resulted in making Austrian wines widely varied, but also with small, innovative niches to be found.

Want to learn more? View the article here!

Brazil

For a large country with a diverse climate, Brazil is quite boutique in terms of its winemaking and grape production. It ranks around 15th in the world for wine production, and it has 82,000 hectares of vineyards—some of which goes towards growing table/food grapes. The wines that come from Brazil have marked Portuguese, Spanish, and Italian influences. (That’s thanks to the colonization of South America by European countries.)

Brazil hosts six beautiful wine regions, many of which are in the temperate areas in the south of the country, close to Uruguay and Argentina. The most popular grape varieties you can find include  Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. When it comes to Brazilian wines, think “fresh, fruity, and fun!” Sparkling wine is a special trademark in Brazil.

Want to learn more?  View the article here!

Chile

Although the country of Chile is smaller than its cousin Brazil, Chile has created a powerful presence in the world of winemaking. The country boasts of being the #7 producer of wine globally, producing 1.2 million tons of delicious wine each year. Most of that—70 percent—is exported, and 75 percent of the wines produced in Chile are sustainable.

There are five wine regions, and the Maipo Valley region is the most popular. It stretches from Santiago all the way to the Andes, making it an easy day trip destination for travelers working out of Santiago. The climate in Chile is similar to that of California, mostly dry. The most popular grape varietals are Cabernet Sauvignon, Carménère, and Chardonnay.

Want to learn more?  View the article here!

France

If you know wine at all, you are familiar with French wine. French wine can trace its history back to the 6th century BCE, and it is the home of many grape varieties such as Merlot, Grenache, Ugni Blanc, Syrah, Carignan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Gamay, Pinot Noir, and many others.

France is the third largest global producer of wine, producing an astonishing 4.2 million tons. It also boasts about 801,000 hectares of vineyards, and yet there is still room for all those gorgeous castles. France produces over 3,000 different kinds of wines. We encourage you to try them all—responsibly, of course.

Among the most popular wine regions of France are Bordeaux, Burgundy, Loire Valley, and Champagne.

Want to learn more?  View the article here!

Germany

Germany is the eighth-largest wine-producing country in the world, and it is known for its delicious and fragrant white wines. (White wines account for almost ⅔ of the total production of wine from Germany.) It grows vineyards on about 103,000 hectares. Riesling is the most popular white grape variety and the Spätburgunder is the most popular red variety. Interestingly, most of the country’s exported wines range on the sweet side, whereas the locals tend to prefer drier wines.

There are 13 wine regions to explore in Germany, but 60 percent of the country’s wines come from the Rhineland-Palatinate region in the west. It’s a gorgeous area to visit, with fantastic turreted castles dotting the hilly countryside and charming villages along rivers and lakes.

Want to learn more?   View the article here!

Greece

Greece is one of the oldest wine-producing regions of the world, and from its very beginnings, it was part of a lucrative Mediterranean Sea trade. Most visitors imagine blue ocean seas, hot barren islands, and beautiful whitewashed buildings. But in reality, Greece is home to a wide variety of climates, including the far north where snow is prevalent. As such, the grapes that are grown in Greece are quite diverse. But yeah, the landscape is stunning wherever you go. And you aren’t going to be disappointed on a wine tour in beautiful Greece.

Greece is home to four regions with 64,000 hectares of vineyards. By no means are they the largest wine producer. But their crisp white wines have a popular following, as do their full-bodied and powerful reds. The most popular grape varietals include the Assyrtiko, Agiorgitiko, Moschofilero, and Savatiano. 

Want to learn more?   View the article here!

Hungary

Hungarian wines have been favorites of emperors and kings of Europe for hundreds of years. Planning to take a wine tour in Hungary? You can expect quaint villages, expansive lakes, great outdoor venues, and fabulous cultural locales. You’ll be wishing your vacation was longer.

Thanks to amazing soil profiles due to volcanic soil and limestone, the grape varietals found in Hungary are rich and flavorful. There are 22 distinct wine regions in Hungary. The most popular grape varietals are the Egri Bikayer, Egri Csillag, and Tokaj. Tokaj is a sweet white wine that was King Louis XVI’s favorite, and when you try it you’ll see why. It’s a real treat!

Want to learn more?  View the article here!

Italy

Who is the #1 producer of wine in the world? Italy! With production at 4.7 million tons, Italy produces an amazing 19 percent of the global wine supply. Italy has 702,000 hectares of vineyards over its 20 wine regions.

Tuscany is Italy’s oldest wine-growing region, and arguably the most scenic. But the largest wine-producing region by volume is Veneto. The largest region by land mass is Sicily. The most popular grapes grown in Italy are the Sangiovese, Chianti, Pinot Grigio, Trebbiano, and Glera (which makes Prosecco). But you can find most of the other popular grape varieties here, as well.

Want to learn more?  View the article here!

New Zealand

Compared to the top European growing countries, New Zealand has a relatively short history with wine, going back to the early 1800s. The industry is popular and growing quickly, though. The country has about 40,000 hectares of vines. Because it’s a long, skinny island, the climate is very similar to that of California—except with oceans on both sides. This makes for a highly desirable climate for growing grapes! An astonishing 90 percent of the wine made in New Zealand is exported, mostly to the USA, UK, and Australia.

New Zealand has 18 different wine-growing regions. Marlborough is the largest, accounting for three-quarters of the country’s production. The most popular grape varietals grown in New Zealand include Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. You can expect to find light-bodied, balanced, and fruity rosé wines (still and sparkling).

Want to learn more?  View the article here!

Portugal

A bazillion years ago, native Portuguese were beer-drinking people. Then, the Romans brought wine to the area, and production began to expand in the 4th and 5th centuries BCE. That’s some old history! In fact, Portugal has two wine-producing regions protected as UNESCO World Heritage Sites—Douro Valley and Pico Island. In total, there are 12 wine regions in Portugal.

What kind of wine can you expect to find here? Port is the obvious answer. A fortified wine, some of the best ports are bottle-aged (not barrel-aged, as most wines are). Ports can have flavors of all kinds of berries, figs, cloves, caramel, cinnamon, and chocolate. A port-tasting tour is an exciting adventure. Most of what you can buy internationally doesn’t even come close to the variety you can experience in Portugal. In general, wine lovers can expect to find blended wines in Portugal, with a wider variety of flavors than is typically common elsewhere.

Want to learn more?  View the article here!

Romania

Romania is one of the world’s largest wine producers (ranked about #12). If you are picturing rolling vineyards nestled in the valleys of Transylvania, among awesome castles…then yeah, you’ve got the right idea. The wines of Romania are rich and robust, mainly because of the popular regional grapes Feteasca Neagra and Tamaioasa Romaneasca. The first, a deep ruby red color, has flavors of blackberry, dark cherries, plums, and chocolate. Arguably the most famous wine made in Romania is the Grasa de Cotnari. It’s a sweet wine that’s like a good Sauternes (and a rival to Hungary’s Tokay). For travelers to Romania, you can expect to find about 250 wine cellars (although wines are only bottled and sold at about 140 of them).

Want to learn more?  View the article here!

South Africa

South Africa is the #9 producer of wine, making 1.2 million tons per year. South Africa is seeing a real boom in winemaking and grape growing thanks to careful investments and access to international markets. For years, grapes were cultivated for inexpensive brandy, giving them a “meh” reputation on the market. But that’s been changing. Today, more than 86 percent of South Africa’s grapes go towards winemaking.

There are 30 different wine regions in South Africa, but most of those are found in the coastal areas around Cape Town. The most popular grape varietals found here are the Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Muscat Blanc. What can you expect from South African wines? A strong scent of ripe, silky fruit, but with earthy flavors. South Africa’s red grapes, in particular, grow until very ripe due to the warm climate. This produces high-alcohol wines.

Want to learn more?  View the article here!

Spain

Spain is the #2 global producer of wine. And with more than 1.2 million hectares of vines, Spain is the country with the most vineyards in the world. If Spain’s grapes take up so much space, why doesn’t it produce more wine? They yield less because of the climate, and the old vines are spaced further apart. The Spanish love to drink their wine though, drinking more than 5.7 gallons of wine per person each year, on average.

Spain is divided into 12 primary regions. The Autonomous Community of Castilla-La Mancha is by far the largest wine-producing region, with Catalonia next in line. Sherry is one of Spain’s specialty products. This fortified wine is mainly produced in southern Spain around the towns of Jerez, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, and El Puerto de Santa Maria. Sherry is primarily made from the Palomino grape. As far as other Spanish wines, they typically derive from Garnacha, Tempranillo, Airén, and Albariño grapes. As far as what makes Spanish wine special, it’s more about the variety of wines you can find here, the quality of their own vines, and organic farming methods.

Want to learn more? View the article here!

USA

The USA is the fourth largest global producer of wine, making 3.3 million tons per year. Although all fifty states make wine, only about 445,000 hectares are grown each year. California is the heavyweight, producing 84 percent of all the wine made in America. Washington and New York states come in second and third respectively, way, way, way behind California. But Napa and Sonoma, while the most famous names, actually are not responsible for making these high quantities of wine. Most are made in the Central Valley of California, just to the east of Napa and Sonoma and stretching to the foothills of the Sierra.

Commonly found grape varietals depend highly on the region of the USA where they are grown. In California, you’ll find Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc. In general, American wines come with a slightly higher alcohol percentage than other global wines. American wine is considered “new” compared to the aged vineyards of Europe. But American wine has consistently scored highly in global competitions for quality.

Want to learn more? We’ve got two articles! Read more here and here!