The 20th century made wine a global commodity — and a global contest.
The origin rules
To protect names and quality, France introduced its AOC system in the 1930s: rules for where a wine may come from, which grapes may be used and how it's grown. Italy (DOC), Spain (DO) and others followed. The label became a promise.
The new world steps up
Countries like the USA, Australia, Chile, Argentina and South Africa built confident wine industries with sun-soaked fruit and grape names on the label. The "Judgment of Paris" in 1976, when Californian wines beat French ones in a blind tasting, showed the world that great wine can come from anywhere.
Wine today
Today wine is shaped by new forces: climate change pushing growing limits northward, a growing interest in natural and organic wine, and technology that makes quality more consistent than ever.
From qvevri in the Caucasus to a cool Swedish vineyard — the history of wine is still being written, and you're part of it.