Six Emerging Wine Regions to Know

Wine has never been more global than it is today. Grown on every continent except Antarctica, innovative winemaking practices, a growing global appreciation for diverse wine styles, and changing climate conditions have all contributed to the emergence of new wine regions.

While you’ll never catch us saying no to a Bordeaux, our specialists have enjoyed learning about wine from around the world and offering them in our fine wine auctions. Here are six notable wine regions that have gained recognition in recent years:

CANADA

This one may seem obvious (hello, Ontario buyers!), but it’s important to remember that Canada is still seen as an emerging market to international audiences.

When we interviewed renowned winemaker Thomas Bachelder for the 2024 Grapes for Humanity auction, he reminded us that it has only been a few decades since growers began to really turn out world-class wines in the Niagara region, and that Canadian wineries are still working hard to make their mark on the global stage. Okanagan and Niagara are well known to Canadians, but local oenophiles should also take note of great wines coming out of Nova Scotia and Quebec, as well as the Similkameen Valley, adjacent to the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, and Lake Erie North Shore and Prince Edward County in Ontario.

ENGLAND

Like Canada, England’s home-grown wines were often treated as “lesser-than” until a few decades ago. A warming climate has resulted in temperatures and terroir that mimic the French region of Champagne, which has inspired the Brits to grow grape varieties like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier in service of making traditional-method sparkling.

Representing the majority of English wine, sparkling accounts for over 65% of wine produced. Demand has increased as has acclaim: British sparkling has begun beating major Champagne houses in competition. Regions like Sussex, Kent and Surrey lead the charge, though the entire southern coast has begun to focus on viticulture. The drier, warmer climate of the region – which continues to warm each year – means that grapes can now ripen properly, a major issue which plagued growers in the past.

CHINA

Chinese consumers only really became interested in Western-style wines at the end of the 20th century. The 1990s saw a flood of imported wines enter the market, inspiring Chinese producers to work towards building a domestic wine industry of their own. With intense support from the Chinese government, China has quickly become one of the top ten producers globally. The country is focused on producing premium “grand vin” Bordeaux-style wine. Red varieties are of particular interest, notably the Marselan grape. A cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache, the variety was created in France by Professor Paul Truel, who was attempting to create a variety for Languedoc which had the heat-resistance of the latter, and the rich flavour of the former. While classic Cabernet remains the most widely used grape in China, Marselan wines are on the rise, topping international competitions.

JAPAN

When you think of Japan, you might think of sake or whisky, but the Land of the Rising Sun also produces some interesting wines. Japan boasts some 30 million wine drinkers, accounting for the country’s status as the 5th-largest importer of wine – as well as the reason why not many Japanese wines make it outside of their borders.

Modern Japanese wine dates to the Meiji Restoration of 1868, to vineyards planted in Yamanishi, an hour outside of Tokyo. Japanese winemakers were sent to Burgundy to study local practices, bringing that knowledge with them to apply to local viticulture. Japan has cold winters and rainy summers, making winemaking a true balancing act. The majority of the yield consists of two indigenous varieties, Koshu and Muscat Bailey A, which together make up a third of production. Japan mostly produces delicate white wines, and yield is notoriously low, making the output both expensive and scarce.

INDIA

Contemporary Indian wine owes much to the pioneering efforts of two businessmen, Shymarao Chowgule and Kanwal Grover, who dedicated themselves to producing wine on local soil. Their efforts inspired other local entrepreneurs to establish vineyards, while also attracting interest from multinational companies like Pernod Ricard, Diageo and Moët Hennessy.

Most wine is produced in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Growing wine in India is not for the faint of heart, owing to the high heat and heavy rains of the May-September monsoon period followed by long dry spells during the winter. Unlike more temperate countries, the Indian winter isn’t all that cool, with temperatures around 35°C. This results in vines which never go fully dormant, meaning that Indian winemakers have had to experiment with irrigation and growing techniques to suit their unique set of conditions. Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz are the most prominent varieties grown in India, though many others like Viognier, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Riesling and Tempranillo are all well represented. Indian winemakers differentiate between Indian-style and Western-style wines, designed to appeal to two different palates. The former are the most widely produced, off-dry, with more sugar present to better pair with spicy Indian cuisine, typified by Chenin Blanc and Cabernet-Shiraz blends. Western-style wines are also produced, and are beginning to make their mark at international competitions.

MEXICO

Ninety percent of all Mexican wines are produced in Baja California, known for robust reds and unique blends. The region’s climate is similar to that of Mediterranean wine regions, but with a strong maritime influence, as most vineyards are within 15 miles of the Pacific Ocean. Concentrated in the Valle de Guadalupe, Baja vineyards draw huge tourist crowds, earning the region comparisons with Napa. Due to the relative youth of the region, there is no signature grape variety. All of the classics are represented, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Merlot and Grenache leading the way for red and Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay representing the majority of whites. Baja also plays host to novelty varieties like Palomino, Trousseau Gris and Ruby Cabernet as well as indigenous grapes like Mission and Rosa del Peru. Winemakers are highly experimental, playing with unconventional blends and styles, making the region exciting to adventurous oenophiles.

Fall 2024 fine wine auction

Our 2024 Fall Fine Wine auction concludes our ninth year of offering rare, collectible and drinkable wine to the secondary market.

Online from November 25 – December 3, highlights include a magnum of Salon Champagne, an exclusive 2007 Groupe Duclot collection, a 2007 magnum of Harlan Estate and over ninety 100 point wines! Find your favourite wines by vintage, region, rating and cru using our WineFinder tool.

This auction is available to view in a Google Spreadsheet or by browsing the PDF Wine index.

For more information, please contact us at [email protected].

consignment opportunities

We are now accepting consignments for our 2024 auctions.

For consignment information please contact us at [email protected] or visit the Fine Wine & Spirits Consignments page for more information.