There are many factors that go into making the best wines. The weather can severely affect the flavors of the wine, as well as soil, and even the water used. There are some wine regions that are widely acknowledged for growing the best wines in the world. This is because they take all these (and many more) factors into account when planning their wine for the season.

Let’s take a closer look at a few of the top wine producing countries.

France

France produces some of the most famous wines and vies for the title of the top producer in the world. In the last ten years, France has actually decreased its production of wine, but it still strongly shows up the competition. The mountainous areas of Northern France make it a number one producer of Merlot. The wine frequently ranks second on the countries list of most exported items.

Italy

Competing with France is mighty Italy. Italy is home to some of the world’s oldest vineyards and wine producers. The country trouts twenty wine regions that correspond with the administrative regions of the country. The regional cuisine has a huge influence on the unique wine flavors that the country produces. This helps to keep their wines consistently ranking with the best and most popular.

California, USA

California’s wine history dates back to the 18th century during Spanish colonization. California produces 90% of the wine created in the United States. It is home to some of the world’s largest wine producers and vineyards. The consistent climate of California means that the grapes can be produced year-round without the weather negatively changing the flavors of the wine.

Spain

Topping the list for the most acreage in the world is Spain. The country has an abundant amount of native grape varieties, some dating back to 66 million years ago. With over 600 grape varieties, the Spanish wine regions also produce some of the most unique wine flavors in the world. Their most popular wine is created from a white grape variety called Airén. It makes up 80% of the grape population planted for production in Spain.

Germany

While most people know Germany for their beer production, the Rhine river of west Germany produces grapes for some of the world’s best wine! The Riesling grape variety allows for Germany to produce an array of wine that pleases a vast amount of consumers. This is why wine experts are torn between which are the best wines produced in the country. Some believe that they produce the best white wines while others debate that they make the best semi-sweet wines.

The tastes and textures of wine are extremely affected by their source. Knowing where the best wine varieties originate will help you to get the most value from your wine purchases. Additionally, I can guarantee as you grow as a wine connoisseur you will begin to notice the difference. Check the bottle label to discover where the wine was produced!