France, Italy, Spain, the U.S. and Argentina fill out the top five spots for worldwide wine production. Argentina produces 5.38 percent of the world’s wines, while France tops the list at 16.54 percent. We can’t deny wine’s popularity around the world. Yet, few stop to ask “How does wine get its name?” before pouring a glass. Have you stopped to think about the history of the wine you enjoy? Have you ever wondered why ice wine is called ice wine? How about how sherry earned its name? Before delving into the topic of wine names, it’s important to understand two key points. Most wine names tie to the region where they’re crafted or the grapes used during their production. While exceptions to the rule occur, most wineries stick to these principles. Wines from countries with a long history of producing wines and strict regulations earn the title “Old World” wines. France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Spain serve as examples for countries producing Old World wines.

Traditionally, the region dictates the different names of wine produced in these countries.how late can u buy wine in texas Countries with less of a history in wine making produce “New World” wines. top wine china 2016Wines falling in this category come from places like Australia, Chile, South Africa and the U.S. glass of wine limitThe different names for wine produced in these countries typically come from the variety of grapes used during winemaking.best ever wine cake Exceptions with wine names occur from time to time. wine and food chicago

Some winemakers skip traditions and create names specific to their winery. best white wine chinese foodOthers use creativity to come up with names for their blends. As an example, Michael David Winery in California turned to creativity to draw attention to its wines, with The 7 Deadly Zins Zinfandel. In its first decade after the name change, sales grew to 250,000 cases per year. Old World wines typically get their name from the region where the grapes grow. Just as there are hundreds of grape varieties, regions producing wines also create an extensive list. We’ve narrowed it to some of the more popular regions and wine names. Wines named for regions can be confusing to buyers. Take Champagne as an example. Many people mistakenly believe that Champagne earns its name for the variety of small grapes. In fact, Black Corinth grapes, aka Champagne grapes, come from Greece and these grapes do not go into the famous bubbly wine, but are sold as dried currants.

Champagne actually contains three varieties of grapes: Chardonnay, Meunier and Pinot Noir. There are seven items that form the basis of any Old World wine label: Old World wines rarely list the exact style of wine. It’s assumed the buyer understands the different types of wines coming out of each region. Understanding the regions can help customers shop for Old World wines. New world wines are frequently named after the type of grape used within the wine. While there are thousands of grape varieties in the world today, Wine Spectator says approximately 1,300 grape varieties make their way into commercial wines. Of those, only 21 grape varieties regularly appear as types of wine names. Grapes Typically Used in Red Wines: Grapes Typically Used in White Wines: With New World wines, labels usually provide more straightforward information than those found on Old World wines. Labels for New World wines include: Labels for New World wines clearly state the type of wine found within the bottle.

This makes it easier for novice wine drinkers to quickly find and identify their favorite varietals. Bottles for wine blends typically state red, white or rose. When a wine doesn’t contain at least 75 percent of one grape variety, the variety goes unlisted. This explains nondescript labels like “sweet red” or “table white.” Some wine makers go for puns or spins on common names and phrases, while others tribute favorite celebrities. How about sipping a glass of Marilyn Merlot? Mommy’s Time Out is another wine that makes for a humorous gift for the busy mom. Wine names can take a personal note for some. Musician Sting, lead singer of the Police, owns a vineyard in Il Palagio, Italy. He names his wines after songs like Message in a Bottle. For Francis Ford Coppola, the award-winning director, his Sofia wines are named after his daughter Sofia. Unique History of Some Wine Names Some believe Chardonnay grapes originally gained their name from an area in Jerusalem.

In 2012, the co-founder of Gvaot Winery told a tour group that Chardonnay grapes came from Israel. The belief is the name came from the Hebrew phrase “sha’har adonai”, which means “gate of God.” Over time, names for this variety of grapes has changed. Chaudenet, Chardonnet and Chardennet are just a few examples. There’s also a village in France called Chardonnay. Merlot also has a fun story regarding its name. This grape variety dates back to 1784. A document dated 1784 mentions a “Merlau” grape, popularly believed to be based on the French term for a young blackbird, or “Merle”. Some believe the grape got its name from the bird’s dark color, while others believe the birds took a liking to the grapes. Ice wine, a sweeter dessert wine, got its name not based on a type of grape or specific region. Despite popular belief, ice wine does not originate in Iceland. Instead it’s based on how the wine is created, a process that occurs when vineyards hold off harvesting grapes until after freezing weather sets in, and workers harvest the frozen grapes from the vine.

These frozen grapes ferment into a very sweet dessert wine with pronounced fruit flavors. The Malbec grape has experienced several name changes and even countries over the years. It initially earned its place as one of the five key grapes of the Bordeaux region in France, and was known as “Pressac” initially. When Sir Malbek transported the grape vines to Medoc, the vines thrived. To honor him, the name of Pressac grapes changed to Malbec grapes. Popularity of the Malbec grape declined in France, but Michel Pouget was responsible for bringing vines on a journey to Argentina. With Argentina’s dry, hot climate, the grapes flourished, developing fruity and spicy notes that we associate with a traditional Argentinian Malbec Wine. Malbec grapes are still grown in France but offer a distinct flavor and frequently are used in blends. Now that you understand the different names of wine, how do you pick your favorites? Don’t let shopping for a wine overwhelm you. Types of wines created throughout the world fall into one of five main categories:

These five main categories branch into subcategories. The subcategories breakdown wines by level of sweetness: dry, semi-sweet or sweet. From there, different wines have different notes. Some wines may have herbal or grassy notes, while others showcase a clear fruitiness with berry notes. From time to time, you’ll find wines that don’t fit these categories. Fruit wines are a good example. Plum wine, strawberry wine and rhubarb wine provide examples of wines made without grapes. When you find a wine you enjoy, note the varietal. Look up the grapes used and pinpoint the region. With this information, you’ll be able to shop for Old World and New World wines with ease. Looking for a popular varietal? The Wine Market Council came up with a list of favorite wine varietals based on a survey of 1,072 wine drinkers. Participants came from all 50 states in the U.S. The top 10 most popular wines according to the survey are: In that same poll, 58 percent of the respondents say they prefer fruity wines.