15 Emerging Wine Regions That Wine Investors Should Consider

Here’s one of the biggest shifts in the wine world today: wine collectors have started to look beyond France and California to exciting new terroirs like Greece, Israel, Japan, and more! 

All thanks to these evolving economies, innovative winemaking technologies, and the global climate change trends.  

Although wines from these emerging wine regions are quite affordable now, their prices and demand are expected to surge in the future. So, if you’re looking for attractive wine investment opportunities, they’re definitely worth keeping a close eye on.

Let’s explore the main emerging wine regions, the great wines they offer, and how Vinovest can help you invest in them easily. We’ll also see why these regions are popular and how climate change is altering the wine map.  

Why Are Emerging Wine Regions Becoming Popular Among Wine Drinkers & Investors?

Here’s why emerging wine regions are getting so much attention in the wine world recently:  

• Newer distribution channels: Nowadays, it’s easier than ever before for any wine lover to get hold of a bottle online - more convenient and affordable than using traditional distribution channels like wine brokers and auctions.

• Increasing pricesof established wine labels: The high demand for wines from iconic wine regions (like Bordeaux and Burgundy), high critics’ scores, and consistent quality ensure that they’re super expensive. 

Recently, the prices of wines imported from Old World wine regions to the US have spiked even more. That’s due to the trade dispute between the US and the European Union, which resulted in the American government imposing a 25% tariff on certain wines from France, Spain, and Germany.

• Steady price appreciation trends: Wines from many emerging wine regions are affordably priced and tend to appreciate over time.  

Israel’s Yatir Winery Forest 2003 red is an example of quality wine with a steady price appreciation trend. Not only did influential wine critic Robert Parker give this wine an impressive score of 93, but its price also rose 285% from $65 in 2007 to $250 in 2022. 

Next, let’s look at the emerging regions every wine enthusiast should know about. 

Emerging Wine Regions in Europe

These are the European countries with the most promising wine regions.  

• Scandinavian Countries
• Poland
• The Netherlands
• England
• Belgium 
• Georgia
• Greece

1. Scandinavian Countries

Scandinavianweather is getting warmer, resulting in longer growing seasons. In turn, many countries like Denmark, Norway, and Sweden have started producing high-quality wines.

Humidity-resistant hybrid grapes like Solaris and Rondo are the most popular in this region, followed by Riesling. 

2. Poland

Due to rising global temperatures, Poland has also become a thriving wine region with some great wine labels.

Grapes that flourish throughout the Silesia, Lubuskie, Małopolska and Western Pomerania regions of the country include:

• Riesling
• Chardonnay
• Gewürztraminer
• Grüner Veltliner 
• Pinot Noir
• Zweigelt

3. The Netherlands

The history of winemaking in the Netherlands dates back to ancient times. However, the country's cold climate was more suitable for beer production, and beer quickly became more popular than wine.  

These days, due to climate change and EU land subsidies, the art of winemaking has been revived in the Netherlands. Today, there’s at least one vineyard in every Dutch province. 

Vineyards commonly grow cold-resistant grapes such as:

• Chardonnay
• Kerner
• Pinot Blanc
• Pinot Gris
• Riesling
• Cabernet Franc
• Gamay
• Pinot Meunier
• Pinot Noir

Fun fact: The Dutch were the first to start making wine in South Africa, which eventually became a popular New World wine region. 

4. England

There are hundreds of vineyards all around Britain producing good quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Bacchus, and Pinot Meunier English wine (especially sparkling wine.) The increasingly warm climate and chalky clay soil (similar to the Champagne region of France) provide ideal conditions for the production of high-quality sparkling wine.

5. Belgium

Not only has the quality of Belgian wines risen quickly, but the production volume quadrupled between 2006 and 2018. Although Belgium initially produced lighter white wines, warmer temperatures have prompted winemakers to produce richer and more complex wines. 

The country produces mostly white wine (90% of its total wine production.) The best Belgian wines are Burgundy-style Chardonnays (both unoaked Chablis-inspired and oaked Côte de Beaune-style wines.)

6. Georgia

Although Georgians have been making wine for thousands of years, the industry stalled due to several factors, including 70 years of Soviet occupation. 

Currently, winemakers are adopting modern techniques to produce high-quality wines from more than 500 grape varieties, including:

• Mtsvane
• Kisi
• Rkatsiteli
• Saperavi

7. Greece

The diverse climate of Greece ranges from arid to wet, with some areas like the Northern mountains receiving heavy rain and snowfall in winter. 

The Aegean Islands, Central, and Southern Greece have hot and humid climates, while some islands like Santorini are very dry. 

With such varied weather conditions, the country produces a diverse range of wines for every wine lover. 

The most commonly produced wines are:

• Malagousia
• Assyrtiko
• Chardonnay blend
• Muscat Blanc
• Athiri
• Syrah

Emerging Wine Regions in North America

Here are the most promising emerging wine regions in North America.

• The USA (Beyond Napa Valley)
• Canada
• Mexico

1. The USA (Beyond Napa Valley)

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges winemakers in Napa Valley, Santa Barbara, and other established wine regions in North America are currently facing. The rising temperatures and wildfires are significantly reducing yields, creating significant supply shortages in some years.

So, wine lovers started looking beyond famous wine regions like Napa Valley to areas like:

• Willamette Valley and Walla Walla Valley, Oregon
• Loudoun Country, Virginia
• Haw River Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area), North Carolina
• Snake River Valley, Idaho
• Texas Hill Country
• Lake Erie Wine Country, Pennsylvania
• Finger Lakes Wine Country, New York
• Middle Rio Grande Valley AVA (American Viticultural Area), New Mexico
• Verde Valley, Arizona
• Laurelwood District, Portland

From the Texas Hill Country to Verde Valley, each wine region and vineyard has something unique to offer. The vineyards in these areas are typically smaller, but the cooler climates make them a great place to grow wine grapes. 

2. Canada

Canada’s main wine-producing regions are Ontario (Niagara and Georgian Bay) and Nova Scotia. 

Niagara has over 100 vineyards and produces 10 million liters of wine annually. Niagara's unique location, temperature variation, and soil make it ideal for growing:

• Pinot Noir
• Pinot Gris
• Cabernet Francs
• Riesling

The country’s other popular wine-producing area is Nova Scotia. It was the first place in North America to begin producing wine.  

The grape varieties grown in Nova Scotia include: 

• Cabernet Franc
• Chasselas
• Chardonnay
• Gamay Noir
• Several hybrid varietals

3. Mexico

Northern Baja and the Valle de Guadalupe north of Ensenada are Mexico’s top wine-producing regions. 

There are several notable wineries in these areas producing:

• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Merlot
• Cabernet Franc
• Chardonnay
• Bordeaux-style blends

Emerging Wine Regions in Asia

These are the emerging Asian wine regions with the most potential. 

• Japan
• China
• India

1. Japan

Although modern winemaking in Japan only took off in 2013, Japanese wines are quickly gaining popularity. Japanese wine drinkers prefer natural wine styles made with organically grown grapes.

The country’s signature grape variety is Koshu, grown predominantly in the Yamanashi Prefecture. It’s a French-Asian pink-skinned grape hybrid that produces light, tart, and refreshing white wine styles. 

2. China

China has the fastest-growing wine market globally, and it's also a major producer of wine. Currently, the country is the second-largest grape grower in the world and the seventh-largest wine producer. 

Thanks to technological developments and rising temperatures, China is producing fine wine that’s gaining global attention. 

The Ningxia region is renowned for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux blends. 

Other notable wine-producing regions in China include:

• Beijing
• Yantai
• Zhangjiakou in Hebei
• Yibin in Sichuan
• Tonghua in Jilin

3. India

India’s wine industry has experienced significant growth over the last ten years with established vineyards in Nashik, Northern Karnataka, and Maharashtra. 

Indian wines are known for their great value, low alcohol content, and fruit-forward character. Most of these wines also make a great pair to traditional Indian cuisine dishes. 

The most commonly produced wines include: 

• Sauvignon Blanc
• Chenin Blanc
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Shiraz

Other Emerging Wine Regions

Here are a few other emerging wine regions to watch out for.

1. Israel

Israel has a flourishing wine industry in regions like the Judaean Hills and the Golan Heights. 

There’s a variety of winemaking operations, from small family-run winery establishments to larger vineyards. 

The high-quality Israeli wine styles include:

• Merlot 
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Syrah
• Sauvignon Blanc

2. Bolivia

This country in South America has a winemaking history that can be traced back to the 16th century. Unfortunately, its wine production was negatively affected by political instability and other socio-economic issues.

These days the wine industry in South America is experiencing a resurgence, and Bolivians have a renewed interest in wine. 

The country’s high altitude is its greatest asset when it comes to winemaking. The intense UV rays at these high altitudes cause the grape skins to thicken and produce more intense flavors. 

Tannat is the most commonly grown grape variety, producing a natural wine that’s smooth, elegant, and aromatic.

Other popular grape varieties grown in Bolivia include:

• Chardonnay
• Cabernet Franc
• Petit Verdot
• Syrah

10 Investment-Worthy Wines From Emerging Wine Regions

Here are ten outstanding fine wines from emerging wine regions to try in 2022:

• 1990 Estate Argyros VinSanto, Santorini, Greece ($235)

• 2007 Golan Heights Winery Yarden Katzrin Red, Galilee, Israel ($457)

• 2010 Alexander Winery 'Alexander the Great' Grande Reserve, Galilee, Israel ($271)

• 2013 Inniskillin Cabernet Franc Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Canada ($220)

• 2013 Ao Yun, Yunnan, China ($307) 

• 2007 Inniskillin Riesling Icewine, Niagara Peninsula, Canada ($277)

• 2008 Estate Argyros VinSanto 12 Year Barrel Aged, Santorini, Greece ($201)

• 2010 Nyetimber 1086 Rose, England ($216)

• 1992 Sadoya 'Chateau Brillant' Red, Yamanashi, Japan ($410)

• 1996 Estate Argyros VinSanto 20 Years Barrel Aged, Santorini, Greece ($226)

Next, let’s explore the best way to invest in wines from these regions. 

How to Invest in Wines From Emerging Regions

Vinovest is a leading wine investment firm that offers you the easiest way to buy, store, and sell investment-grade wines from anywhere in the world.

Vinovest also comes with a lot of benefits, including:

• The AI-driven platform makes buying and selling wine fast and simple. 
• Master Sommeliers do the hard research for you, combining their expertise with AI-driven investment algorithms to provide carefully curated wine portfolios. 
• Wines are sourced directly from winemakers, global wine exchanges, and trusted wine merchants at the best possible prices. ‍
• Your wines will be stored under optimal conditions in bonded warehouses around the world. 

Climate Change: How Is It Altering The Wine Map?

Arguably climate change is the main reason for the changing global wine map. 

Some iconic wine regions are becoming too warm and dry to grow certain grape varieties.

Additionally, grape crop yields in Old World wine regions are being significantly reduced by extreme weather events. For example, hail, frost, and drought in Burgundy continue to lower wine production volumes. 

Even well-established New World wine regions like South Africa, Central Otago, New Zealand, and South Australia have often been affected by drought, heat, and fires.

Moreover, the warm temperatures increased precipitation, and shorter winters are expected to increase the lifespan of insect pests that feed on grape crops, further decreasing yields. 

In contrast, winemakers from emerging regions are taking advantage of rising global temperatures and utilizing technology to improve the quality and increase their yields. 

Get An Alluring Bottle from An Emerging Wine Region Today!

Wines from emerging wine regions have a lot to offer. Many of them provide great value and investment potential to the discerning wine collector. 

Whether you’re a wine enthusiast looking for a decadent red wine to invest in or a crisp, tart, white wine to sip at dinner, you're sure to find a bottle you'll love. 

As for adding an investment-worthy vintage to your portfolio, let Vinovest help you out! You’ll be able to buy, store, and sell any authentic wine from an emerging or established wine region with ease.