Wine Growing Regions

The grape vine grows best where the climate is temperate. Two broad belts, one north and one south of the equator, have such a climate. The belt located north of the equator extends from 50 degrees N. to 30 degrees N. The one located south of the equator is narrower, extending from 30 degrees S. to 40 degrees S. The best-known wine countries located above (or north) of the equator are France, Germany, Italy, the U.S., and Algeria. The lesser-known but also good producers are Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece as well as Russia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, China and Japan. Below the equator are the southern wine making areas that include Africa (Algeria, Morocco, South Africa); Australia, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

More than three fourths of the world’s wine is made in Europe.