Alternative Wine Producers

[tallwingedgoat]

The 20th century has seen a proliferation of wine making. It used to be only French wines were even considered by serious aficionados, today the American Napa valley, Australian, and Chilean wines are a force to be reckoned with.

Historically England used to be a wine producer before the climate changed, Algeria used to produce good wine until the French were driven out. The newest and fastest growing wine market is China, which is starting to bottle their own. Older wine producers like Italy and Spain somehow never matched the prestige of the French.

Which areas of the world could conceivably produce well regarded top notch wines with earlier investment in the industry?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wine-producing_regions

 

[thekingsguard]

I know the Shenendoah valley in Virginia has been trying to become a wine region since the days of Jefferson... and only recently have we started getting anyware close tp such a reputation. Perhaps focus on accomplising this sooner?

 

[Iori]

Well, my own state (Washington) is a Wine producer and is moving up their, and their were attempts in the 19th century, so I suppose get some things to go right and Wash. could be like California is now.

 

[wilcoxchar]

The western slope of the Rockies in Colorado has been growing wine for about a century, but has only recently started gaining a reputation as a wine region. If Spain settles the area, they might bring in some Spanish grapes and start a wine industry in the Colorado area earlier.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Valley_AVA
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Elks_AVA

 

[Riain]

Iran.

Australian winemakers make a lot of Shiraz, which is named after a city in Iran. A nice bottle of red might make Imadinnerjacket settle down a bit too.

 

[Oracle of Sobek 𓆋]

Egypt (had a thriving and sophisticated wine industry in Pharaonic times), Syria, Lebanon, Morocco... The Islamic Mediterranean, is what I'm getting at (maybe in an ATL where Islam doesn't restrict wine/alcohol?)

 

[Kevin Renner]

The whole Niagra Escarpment in North America. Wisconsin of all places is starting to produce some drinkable reds

 

[Julius Vogel]

I think half the problem at present is that there is a bit of a glut with grape/wine production. 30,000 hectares in NZ alone, up by a factor of 6 or so since 1995. We generally aim at the quality/mid to high end of the international market, but even so, wine producers regularly go bust.

We've extended wine production quite far south in NZ - to Central Otago (both the hotest and coldest part of the country, depending on season) and my home valley on the coast of Otago has had half a dozen vineyards established in the last ten years.

 

[Desmond Hume]

What about Greece? Greece certainly has one of the longest historical connections to wine, yet it doesn't seem to be a big player in the wine industry today (AFAIK; I'm not that knowledgable about wine, being more of a beer guy myself).

 

[Alex Richards]

There are English and even Welsh wines that are starting to come to prominence at the moment OTL, particularly Sparkling Whites.

 

[loughery111]

Historically England used to be a wine producer before the climate changed, Algeria used to produce good wine until the French were driven out. The newest and fastest growing wine market is China, which is starting to bottle their own.

For the love of God, don't drink it! They intentionally oxidize their wines, tastes horrible to someone accustomed to a Western wine palette.

 

[Julius Vogel]

For the love of God, don't drink it! They intentionally oxidize their wines, tastes horrible to someone accustomed to a Western wine palette.

Chinese wine?

I don't really trust food or drink products produced in the PRC unless I've been able to do some research on the brand and ingredients.

 

[Young Lochinvar]

What about Egyptian or other middle eastern countries. Someones's already mentioned Iran and Algeria. Egypt and Canaan (Israel) have some of the oldest if not always continuos traditions in the industry.

 

[pa_dutch]

What about Egyptian or other middle eastern countries. Someones's already mentioned Iran and Algeria. Egypt and Canaan (Israel) have some of the oldest if not always continuos traditions in the industry.

Perhaps Oman? One of the most common wine grapes, after all, is called Muscat.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

Maghreb in ancient days had fine wines too, i was told.

 

[VictorLaszlo]

Before the prohibition the best american wines were produced in the Hudson valley. The Hudson was even compared to the Rhine. But the prohibition destroyed this tradition, dating back to the time when Huguenot settlers came to New Amsterdam and after the end of the prohibition Californian wines became absolutely dominant. In the last years there has been something of a renaissance in east coast wine production, but it still isn't widely known.

 

[NothingNow]

If where I was wasn't so overbuilt now, I'd say a few parts of Florida would be more then suitable for certain kinds of wine, and we do have a few wineries. I'm not sure about the quality though.
It'd be quite easy to produce something like Madiera here on the right soil.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

South Africa could became something with work!

 

[VictorLaszlo]

South Africa could became something with work!

South Africa already is an established wine producing country. Turkey would be another candidate, after all many famous greek wines in ancient Rome in fact came from Asia Minor.

 

[The Ubbergeek]

South Africa already is an established wine producing country. Turkey would be another candidate, after all many famous greek wines in ancient Rome in fact came from Asia Minor.

yeah, but the thread is also making other regions major players, or so it seems to me.