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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

Merlot
90
Chardonnay
90
Trebbiano (Ugni Blanc)
85
Pinot Noir
75
Glera
75
Agiorgitiko
75
Cabernet Sauvignon
70
Tempranillo
70
Sangiovese
70
Garganega
70
Syrah
65
Müller-Thurgau
65
Grenache
60
Riesling
60
Pinot Gris
60
Grüner Veltliner
60
Dolcetto
60
Cortese
60
Grenache Blanc
60
Colombard
60
Loureiro
60
Moschofilero
60
Sagrantino
60
Nebbiolo
55
Corvina
55
Albariño
55
Zinfandel
55
Montepulciano
55
Lambrusco
55
Marsanne
55
Dornfelder
55
Picpoul
55
Baga
55
Teroldego
55
Lagrein
55
Touriga Nacional
50
Gamay
50
Barbera
50
Assyrtiko
50
Pinotage
50
Blaufränkisch
50
Nerello Mascalese
50
Nero d'Avola
50
Torrontés
50
Macabeo
50
Xarel·lo
50
Parellada
50
Vermentino
50
Aglianico
50
Zweigelt
50
Roussanne
50
Cabernet Franc
45
Sauvignon Blanc
45
Chenin Blanc
45
Mourvèdre
45
Saperavi
45
Carménère
45
Tannat
45
Verdejo
45
Muscat Blanc
45
Xinomavro
45
Chasselas
45
Godello
45
Fiano
45
Verdicchio
45
Grillo
45
Plavac Mali
45
Trousseau
45
Pinot Meunier
40
Viognier
40
Gewürztraminer
40
Furmint
40
Melon de Bourgogne
40
Mencía
40
Aligoté
40
Petit Manseng
40
Jacquère
40
Bobal
40
Rkatsiteli
40
Silvaner
40
Carignan
35
Savagnin
35
Mauzac
35
Poulsard
35
Mondeuse
35
Tinta Negra
35
Gaglioppo
35
Cinsault
30
Palomino
30
Romorantin
30
Xynisteri
30
Savatiano
30
Listán Prieto
25
Sémillon
22
Ramisco
20
Petit Verdot
14
Prunelard
12
Malbec
6
Castets
6
Muscadelle
4
Magdeleine Noire des Charentes
3
Gouais Blanc
3
Saint-Macaire
3

The wines of the era

Pomerol Red wine Champagne Sparkling White Burgundy Dry white Napa Cabernet Red wine Saint-Émilion Red Red wine Red Burgundy Red wine Prosecco Sparkling Columbia Valley Cabernet 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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