Period — 1950–today

The Modern & New World Era

Science, then upheaval. Oenology became a discipline under Émile Peynaud and temperature control rewrote white wine; the 1976 Judgment of Paris, where Napa bottles out-scored first growths blind, ended Europe's monopoly on prestige. Malbec returned in Argentine dress, Australia and New Zealand redrew Syrah and Sauvignon, and the fine-wine map became genuinely global — just as a warming climate began moving the goalposts, ripening Petit Verdot in Bordeaux and planting vines in England.

Key events

  1. 1956The great February frost redraws Bordeaux — Merlot replaces Malbec
  2. 1973First vines go into Marlborough — a world benchmark within twenty years
  3. 1976The Judgment of Paris — Napa beats the first growths blind
  4. 1994Chile's 'merlot' is unmasked as Carmenère, Bordeaux's lost grape
  5. 1991Rioja becomes Spain's first DOCa; the export era of the New World begins
  6. 2021Bordeaux approves new varieties against climate change

The grapes of the era

Indicative presence index, 0–100

The wines of the era

Pomerol Red wine Champagne Sparkling White Burgundy Dry white Napa Cabernet Red wine Bolgheri (Super Tuscan) Red wine Saint-Émilion Red Red wine Red Burgundy Red wine Prosecco Sparkling Columbia Valley Cabernet Red wine Sonoma Pinot Noir Red wine Maipo Cabernet Red wine Paso Robles Red Red wine Médoc Red Red wine Mendoza Malbec Red wine Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc Dry white Hermitage Red wine Central Otago Pinot Noir Red wine Coonawarra Cabernet Red wine Barbaresco Red wine Alsace Riesling Dry white Douro Red Red wine Pfalz Riesling Dry white Franciacorta Sparkling Rheinhessen Riesling Dry white Casablanca Sauvignon Blanc Dry white Hawke's Bay Red Red wine Swartland Chenin Blanc Dry white Ningxia Cabernet Red wine Clare Valley Riesling Dry white McLaren Vale Shiraz Red wine Yarra Valley Pinot Noir Red wine Tasmania Sparkling Sparkling Finger Lakes Riesling Dry white Okanagan Red Red wine Chianti Red wine Côtes de Provence rosé Rosé Brunello di Montalcino Red wine Barossa Shiraz Red wine Condrieu Dry white Soave Dry white Nemea Red wine Alentejo Red Red wine Alsace Pinot Gris Dry white Crozes-Hermitage Red wine Saint-Joseph Red wine Côtes du Rhône Red wine Nahe Riesling Dry white Baden Spätburgunder Red wine Etna Bianco Dry white Barolo Red wine Rioja Red wine Pinot Grigio delle Venezie Dry white Willamette Pinot Noir Red wine Ribera del Duero Red wine Bandol Red wine Gavi Dry white Dão Red Red wine Hunter Valley Sémillon Dry white Chinon Red wine Pouilly-Fumé Dry white Cornas Red wine Gigondas Red wine Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Red wine Valpolicella Red wine Vermentino di Gallura Dry white Dry Furmint (Tokaj) Dry white Aglianico del Vulture Red wine Toro Red wine Jumilla Red wine Bekaa Valley Red Red wine Mantinia Dry white Cerasuolo di Vittoria Red wine Sancerre Dry white Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red wine Côte-Rôtie Red wine Amarone della Valpolicella Red wine Wachau Grüner Veltliner Dry white Margaret River Cabernet Red wine Cava Sparkling Dolcetto d'Alba Red wine Montefalco Sagrantino Red wine Alto Adige Lagrein Red wine Savennières Dry white Tavel Rosé Picpoul de Pinet Dry white Crémant du Jura Sparkling Teroldego Rotaliano Red wine Bairrada Red wine Egri Bikavér (Bull's Blood) Red wine Vin de Constance Sweet white Valtellina Red wine Jura Chardonnay Dry white Rapsani Red wine Navarra Rosado Rosé Graves & Pessac-Léognan Red Red wine Mosel Riesling Dry white Beaujolais Red wine Rías Baixas Albariño Dry white Chilean Carmenère Red wine California Zinfandel Red wine Priorat Red wine Moscato d'Asti Sparkling Etna Rosso Red wine Nero d'Avola Red wine Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Red wine Chablis Dry white Lambrusco Sparkling Niagara Icewine Sweet white English Sparkling Sparkling Arbois Trousseau Red wine Saint-Péray Dry white Arbois Savagnin Dry white Pfalz Dornfelder Red wine Banyuls Fortified Fronton Red wine Gaillac Dry white Barbera d'Asti Red wine Santorini Assyrtiko Dry white Cape Pinotage Red wine Burgenland Blaufränkisch Red wine Primitivo di Manduria Red wine Argentine Torrontés Dry white Vinho Verde Dry white Taurasi Red wine Neusiedlersee Zweigelt Red wine Uruguayan Tannat Red wine Štajerska Furmint (Orange) Dry white Dry White Bordeaux Dry white Vouvray Dry white Alsace Gewurztraminer Dry white Qvevri Saperavi Red wine Madiran Red wine Corbières Red wine Rueda Dry white Naoussa Red wine Rheingau Riesling Dry white Blanquette de Limoux Sparkling Fendant Dry white Patrimonio Red wine Cannonau di Sardegna Red wine Valdeorras Godello Dry white Fiano di Avellino Dry white Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Dry white Qvevri Amber Wine Dry white Dingač Red wine Tsolikouri Dry white Voskehat Dry white Haghtanak Red wine Tsinandali Dry white Qvevri Rkatsiteli (Amber) Dry white Port Fortified Tokaji Aszú Sweet white Muscadet Dry white Cahors Red wine Bierzo Red wine Bouzeron Dry white Jurançon Sweet white Apremont Dry white Utiel-Requena Bobal Red wine Franken Silvaner Dry white Vin Jaune Dry white Arbois Poulsard Red wine Savoie Mondeuse Red wine Madeira Fortified Cirò Red wine Chilean País Red wine Sherry Fortified Cour-Cheverny Dry white Marsala Fortified Retsina Dry white Sauternes Sweet white Commandaria Sweet white Colares Red wine Crémant de Bordeaux Sparkling Clairet Rosé