By Alexx Stuart
Luxury Tastings Drinks Expert   

Out with the old and in with the new is a saying you may well be familiar with. When it comes to wine, the old and new co--exist mostly happily. Drinkers are able to embrace all that has been from the old world wine countries such as Spain, Germany, Italy and France. While enjoying the vivacious and creative wine making from new world wine countries for example Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and Chile.

Old world wines are steeped in centuries of tradition, methodology and the romance and pride in the 'terroir'. There is an incredibly deep wisdom that has developed in that time. New world wines are guided more by science, experimentation and creativity with the varietals often not being indigenous to the regions they're grown in. The new world wines are most often the product of old-world family techniques applied to new regions, various grape varietals, soil and blends.

A sommelier or wine educator will say not to let these terms get in the way of choosing a great wine. In both genres one will find fabulous and mediocre examples from any country, varietal, vintage or region. It comes down to your personal preference for flavour and style and educating yourself about how a particular grape grows in different parts of a country, different regions of the world and how that translates to your palate in the resulting wines!

In talking to Jason Hoy, Australia's authority on Riesling, he shared some insights on this grape so very well travelled through old and new. It is a grape that prospers internationally in many regions. 'Riesling likes a cool spot' says Hoy. "Historically grown in Alsace, Germany and Austria, it has grown in these parts for many hundreds of years. As Europeans prospected new growth areas when settling in new countries, Riesling was taken along for a little experimentation. You find Riesling doing well in the parts of the USA such as in Washington state and New York state along with New Zealand, several regions in Australia, South Africa and many more places.

In asking Jason what is the most appealing aspect of growing a varietal like Riesling in multiple areas, he offers this: "Riesling is a mirror of its terroir. It is a grape that is a very pure and free expression of itself, in the sense that there is no barrel ageing, no malolactic fermentation that takes away from its pure floral aromatics, freshness and acidity - you get a true connection in drinking a Riesling, with the terroir from which the grapes are grown. The excitement therefore lies in the fact that throughout the old world and new world regions, you can truly see the potential shades of expression of just one varietal and its basic characteristics and structure, grown in different regions".

One could then of course have a look into other varietals and how different the expressions we find of them are, region depending, however by this point you are surely thirsty, so I offer you this:

What should you try this weekend? Simon Thomsen, our resident expert host and wonderful restaurant critic, suggests this new world wine example: Pegasus Bay from Waipara, NZ. It has sweetness, great acidity and is a brilliant match with spicy Asian food. Enjoy!


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