Top 10 Winemaking Regions in the World
At Wine Insiders, our passion is introducing vino lovers to delicious varietals and blends from around the world.
Whether you’re a wine newbie or a master sommelier, the world of wine bursts at the seams with regions to explore, bottles to try, and wonderful vinicultural experiences.
To help you better understand the origins of the world’s best and most popular wines, we proudly present our Guide to the Top 10 Winemaking Regions in the World:
1. Italy
While there’s often a fierce battle for the title of “world’s most prolific wine country,” no one should be surprised when Italy takes the cake.
Recent global reports indicate Italy accounts for roughly 19% of the world’s varietals and blends. That’s more than ~49 million hectoliters of Italian wine produced annually.
To the joy of many proud Italians, millions of wine lovers not only buy but passionately love their country’s national vino. It’s quite common to hear lovers of Italian wine professing its quality matches, if not surpasses, the remarkable quantity the country produces.
If you’re looking for an authentic, delicious sample of Italian wine, some of the most popular and reliable options we recommend are Montepulciano, Pinot Grigio, and Sangiovese.
On a tour of Italy, we also encourage you to take valuable moments to explore and luxuriate in its famed Old World growing regions like Tuscany, Sicily, and Piemonte.
2. France
France and wine are a beloved combination seemingly as old as time.
Vin is revered in French culture and our global consciousness for a good reason:
France produces just over 18% of the world’s wine, accounting for ~47 million hectoliters of wine produced annually across its many iconic growing areas.
Many of France’s iconic wines are cultural staples far beyond Europe, often garnering rave acclaim from wine experts and inexperienced drinkers alike.
While it’s hard to go wrong with the best of French vin, we recommend enjoying lovely bottles of Bordeaux, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.
If you make the worthwhile voyage to this Old World country, we also implore you to check out the idyllic French regions of Provence, Bordeaux and Bourgogne (Burgundy).
Learn more about French wine here!
3. Spain
Wine lovers globally cherish the excellent flavors, traditions and pair-ability of vino Español — and it’s easy to see why.
The Spanish wine industry consistently produces high-quality wines on a yearly basis, accounting for nearly 15.9% of the world’s wine and producing ~41 million hectoliters of vino annually.
While there are myriad Spanish options to select from, we recommend enjoying bottles of Albariño,Tempranillo, Garnacha and Cava alongside some of Spain’s delicious cuisine.
On your first/next journey to Spain, also make sure to check out growing regions like La Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Catalan for an authentic slice of Spanish wine and life.
Learn more about Spanish wine here!
4. United States
The United States of America is nothing if not ambitious, and the country’s wine industry exemplifies this perfectly.
The American wine industry accounts for more than 8.8% of the world’s vino supply, translating to ~23 million hectoliters of wine produced annually.
For an excellent taste of America’s vinicultural best, we advise sampling modern classics like Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.
It’s also important to note that, despite being the first New World wine country on this list, the United States also features several highly profitable, world-renowned growing regions with unique personalities.
If you’re looking for idyllic representations of American wine, check out Napa Valley and Sonoma in California, Walla Walla and Columbia Valley in Washington, and the Willamette Valley in Oregon.
5. Argentina
Argentina marks this ranking’s first foray into South America, and it is well worth the journey:
South America is a haven of New World wines, and Argentina represents the continent’s most prolific and acclaimed winemaking region.
Annually, Argentinian wine makes up a remarkable ~4.2% of the vast global market, producing over 10.8 million hectoliters of vino a year across a wide variety of diverse landscapes.
If you’re hoping to discover the flavorful joy of Argentinian vino, we recommend starting with bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Malbec to get a true sense of why this country’s vino is so globally renowned.
For those hoping to explore the lovely wine regions of South America’s second-largest country (by land area), our suggestions include the areas of San Juan, Mendoza, and Salta.
Learn more about Argentinian wine here!
6. Australia
Australia may be far away from other regions on this list, but this New World wine country’s fantastic bottles are certainly making waves:
2020 data shows the “land Down Under” yields over 4.1% of the world’s global wine supply, producing ~10.6 million hectoliters of vino annually.
While this country (and continent!) produces many delicious varietals and blends, some Australian vinicultural staples worth sampling are Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay.
We’d also be remiss not to mention a few of the country’s stunning growing regions:
The areas of Riverina, Barossa Valley and Hunter Valley offer visitors the opportunity to sample some of the country’s greatest wines in peaceful, nature-bound locations only brief drives from significant Aussie cities like Adelaide and Sydney.
Learn more about Australian wine here!
7. South Africa
South Africa is a country overflowing with history, culture, natural beauty, incredible wildlife, and of course, spectacular wine.
As the largest wine producer on the African continent, South Africa is responsible for slightly above 4.0% of the world’s wine supply. Annually, producers from across the country yield an impressive 10.4 million hectoliters of wine, only slightly below Australia’s 10.6 million.
If you’re looking to sample the splendor of this New World wine country, look no further than its Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Shiraz for excellent flavors and pair-ability.
If you’re lucky enough to visit South Africa, take the time to stop in growing areas like Constantia, Stellenbosch, and Paarl to enjoy the country’s distinct combination of natural beauty and vinicultural excellence.
Learn more about South African wine here!
8. Chile
Our second stop in South America brings us to Chile, a country with 500 years of rich, vinicultural history and a national passion for wine:
Chile makes excellent use of its diverse soils, climates, and tradition, annually accounting for just under 4% of the world’s total wine supply.
Producing 10.3 million hectoliters of vino a year, the famously skinny country is the continent’s second-largest wine producer — behind Argentina, of course.
For the ultimate introduction to Chilean wine, we suggest searching for delicious bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Syrah for a tasteful mix of the region’s best white and reds.
On a journey to this South American treasure, we recommend visiting Chilean growing areas like the Coquimbo Region, Aconcagua Valley, and Central Valley Region.
Learn more about Chilean wine here!
9. Germany
Like the country itself, the German wine industry has a rich history supported by proud people and a diverse, evolving culture.
Germany may be known for its beer, but its love affair with wine is not to be ignored:
Recent world harvest data reveals Germany accounts for nearly 3% of the world’s wine, translating to ~8.4 million hectoliters of wine produced annually.
While there are many excellent German varietals and blends, a few of our favorites worth trying are Riesling, Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir), and Müller-Thurgau.
For those making the exciting journey to Deutschland, we also recommend checking out beautiful German growing regions like Pfalz, Baden, and Rheinhessen.
Learn more about German wine here!
10. China
Wine may not be the first thing you associate with China, but the country’s booming vinicultural industry is one of the world’s most impressive.
Chinese wines account for over 3.25% of the global market, translating to ~6.6 million hectoliters of wine produced annually in the world’s third-largest country (by total area).
If you’re new to Chinese wine, check out native bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon, Marselan, and Cabernet Gernischt for an authentic and diverse sampling of this burgeoning New World wine country.
For those who decide to visit China, make sure to check out growing regions like Hebei, Ningxia, and Shandong along your vinicultural journey.
Learn more about Chinese wine here!
Wine Insider’s Global Selection
Now that you know about the top winemaking regions internationally, it’s time to check out Wine Insiders’ diverse collection of fantastic varietals and blends from across the globe:
Whether you’re looking for a crisp, refreshing white from Spain, a bold, flavorful red from Argentina, or a wine set mixing bottles from your favorite Old or New World countries, we have the varietals and blends you need to taste the world in your glass.
For more information about wine regions, varietals, and more - check out our full library of Wine 101 Guides!
