Today, wine is produced world-wide, but the countries with the longest wine making history are located around the Mediterranean, and it is here that most wine is still produced.  The primary wine producing countries are France, Italy and Spain.  France and Italy alternate in producing the largest volume of wine, whereas as Spain has the largest wine cultivation area.

In each wine producing country there are certain regions that stand out when it comes to providing excellent conditions for cultivating grapes and thereby exceptional wines.  Names such as Bordeaux and Bourgogne in France, Rioja in Spain and Piedmont in Italy are examples of these.

Wine has a relatively short history here in Norway and traditionally, wines from the Mediterranean have been popular.  Starting in the 1970's, consumption and interest in wine has risen sharply and we have discovered new and exciting wine producing countries, such as Australia, Chile, Argentina, South Africa and California.