Wine tasting event: Old World Classics, what does "Old World" mean?

Wine tasting event: Old World Classics, what does "Old World" mean?

When exactly did my inbox begin to be filled with wine tastings of "Old World vs New World"?  That would have been a historic time to note down.  Like many phrases in many walks of life, not just wine, there may be imprecise definitions floating around.  Let's be clear on exactly what we're talking about here.  For me:

Old World = wines made in regions where there is a long history of wine making, mainly Europe.  Wines made under the practices of tradition and the principles of terroir (land). 

New World = wines made in regions that have not historically produced wine, Australia, NZ, the Americas.  Wines made under the rules of science and the guidance of a wine maker.

The phrases are not intended to inform any taste or colour or style of wine.   A Spanish red wine may have more flavour characteristics in common with an Australian red wine than an Austrian red wine, for example.

As the world is not such a black and white place, of course you can expect to find "scientifically made" wines from France and "traditionally grown" wines from the USA, for example.  I think you can guess at which style of wine making artisan&vine chooses to specialise in.

On this Wednesday evening wine tasting we'll talk through the differences between Old and New world wine making philosophies and then focus in on classic examples of old world wines that demonstrate the practices of tradition and terroir.

This is a great opportunity to acquiant yourself with the old world and what it means.

Wines on tasting:

1. Champagne Fleury, NV.  100% Pinot Noir, 12.5% abv. Champagne Fleury, France.  I was really excited to get Fleury on board at a&v. The estate has been biodynamic since 1989, which would be rare for any region, but particularly so for Champagne. Jean-Pierre Fleury is an iconic, multi-award winning winemaker, and the Carte Rouge is very demonstrative of his style. Light, frothy bubbles; yeasty red fruits (from Pinot Noir grapes) and a good backbone of acidity. You'll really struggle to drink “normal” champagne ever again.

2. Clos Beru Chablis 2007, Athenais is an energetic wine maker and her wines carry that energy. This is a crisp, round Chablis with hints of honey. The soil on which her vineyards are located are rich in fossils, giving a fantastic drainage and producing complex wines. This signature Chablis is an ideal place to begin an understanding of the wines of this appellation.  100% Chardonnay.

3. Clos du Chapeau, 2004, Domaine de l'Arlot is an absurd place. No where in the world should be this beautiful. I can't even think of a way to be more Burgundian than these guys manage. The estate is regal but not overstated; the gardens are manicured yet decorated by stone carvings from hundreds of years of children playing there; the wines are elegant and opulent all at once. For me, a bottle of these wines is a bottle of Burgundy. Beautiful, sumptuous red Burgundy. There's a reason wine lovers love Pinot Noir so much & this wine can show you. Perfection in a bottle, ready for you to drink now (though it will age if, like me, you'd like to keep some for home).

4. Chateauneuf du Pape, 2005.  Domaine de Villeneuve. Chateauneuf du Pape is the Big Daddy of France‟s Appellation Controlee (AC) system, being the place where the foundations for the system were laid. That‟s not so important to a wine bar focused on fairly non-traditional wines, except that, here we have an example of our beloved biodynamic methods operating in the heart of tradition. All the things you‟d expect from the famous appellation as well as all the authenticity and clarity you‟ve come to love from natural wines.

5. Chateau Le Puy, Bordeaux, Chateau Le Puy 2006.  Rich, red, luscious Bordeaux.  This is a zero added sulphite wine.  An absolute show stopper.

Buying online

When buying tickets via the online wine shop (recommended), select "Store collection" as your delivery option, which carries no additional charges. There are no additional charges to you for buying tickets for our wine tastings online, this is the most efficient way to reserve your place. You will be notified in advance of payment and unable to purchase tickets if the tasting is sold out.