Research Guides: Beverage Management: Geographic Resources

Geographic Resources

Understanding where wine, beer, spirits, and coffee and tea are produced is essential to appreciating their unique characteristics. The geographic location, including the climate, soil, and landscape (often referred to as terroir) plays a vital role in determining flavor, quality, and style. Use the resources below to explore the world's most significant production regions, connect regional names with their distinct products, and select a region for your assignment.

Wine Geographic Resources

Ever Wonder Wine - Regions
This site provides concise, beginner-friendly summaries of major global wine regions, framed by the important "Old World" versus "New World" distinction. It is a quick reference for students needing a brief introduction to a region's major production statistics and signature grape varietals.
Food and Wine - Wine Regions
Food & Wine combines regional overviews with culinary context, highlighting how wine pairs with local cuisine. This resource is useful for students exploring the intersection of wine, food traditions, and regional identity.
French Wine Regions
This is a dedicated guide to French wine, focusing on the concept of terroir and France's world-renowned appellations. It provides detailed information on major French regions, grape varieties, winemaking classifications, and legendary wines, making it an excellent resource for in-depth study of Old World production.
Wine Enthusiast - Regions
Wine Enthusiast features articles and guides on global wine regions, trends, and travel insights. Perfect for students interested in both the geography and lifestyle aspects of wine culture.
Wine Folly - Regions
Wine Folly provides visually engaging maps and guides to major wine-producing regions worldwide. Perfect for quick comparisons and learning key facts about grape varieties, climate, and styles in different countries.
The Wine Society - Regional Guides
The Wine Society provides extensive, in-depth ultimate guides to key global regions and their characteristic wine styles. This resource is perfect for students ready for detailed regional knowledge, including history, winemaking processes, and specific grape varieties.

Beer Geographic Resources

American Craft Brewery Regions
This site organizes U.S. craft breweries by region, making it easy to explore local brewing traditions and styles. Great for students interested in American beer culture and regional differences in craft brewing.
The Beer Atlas – World Beer Map
The Beer Atlas offers an interactive global map of beer styles and origins. Perfect for students looking to compare international beer traditions and discover unique regional specialties.
Open Brewery DB – Browse Breweries
An open database of breweries that allows users to search by location, type, and name. Ideal for students who want a comprehensive, customizable tool for finding breweries across the U.S.
TasteAtlas – Beer
TasteAtlas highlights traditional beers from around the world, with cultural context and tasting notes. Useful for students exploring how beer connects to local heritage and culinary practices.

Coffee and Tea Geographic Resources

AboutCoffee.org – Coffee Regions of the World
A comprehensive resource from the National Coffee Association explaining where coffee grows, the concept of terroir, and how altitude and climate influence flavor. Excellent for understanding geographic and environmental factors.
Café Du Monde – The Ultimate Guide to Tea
This guide offers a cultural and historical overview of tea, tracing its journey from ancient China to modern global traditions. It’s ideal for students interested in the cultural significance of tea and its diverse varieties across regions.
CoffeeResearch.org – Coffee Origins Map
An educational map showing coffee-growing regions worldwide, along with harvest times and production data. Perfect for students who want a visual reference for global coffee origins and seasonal cycles.
Rate Tea - Tea Producing Regions & Single Origin Teas
RateTea offers a clickable world map of tea-producing countries and subregions. Students can explore detailed articles, photos of plantations, and links to single-origin teas. Great for understanding global tea diversity and regional traditions.
Sweet Maria’s – Coffee Producing Countries
Provides detailed country profiles and interactive maps for coffee-growing regions, based on decades of sourcing experience. Great for exploring regional differences and learning about smallholder farming practices.
World Coffee Research – Varieties Catalog
An interactive catalog of Arabica and Robusta coffee varieties, including agronomic data and adaptation to local conditions. Useful for students studying sustainability, plant science, or the impact of climate on coffee production.

Distilled Spirits Geographic Resources

The Gin is In - Regions
A global directory of gin producers organized by region, highlighting how local botanicals influence flavor. Great for exploring the worldwide diversity of gin styles.
Rum Geography
Rum Geography is a global platform for exploring rum-producing regions across 100+ countries. It features interactive maps, distillery profiles, and travel guides—ideal for students interested in the diversity of rum and its cultural roots worldwide.
Scotch Whiskey Association
Explains Scotland’s five official whisky regions, Highland, Lowland, Speyside, Campbeltown, and Islay, and their distinct flavor profiles. Perfect for students studying geographic indications and regional branding.
TasteAtlas – Best Spirits and Liqueurs
TasteAtlas ranks and describes top-rated spirits and liqueurs from around the world, including regional specialties like Speyside whisky and Mexican tequila. This resource is perfect for discovering iconic spirits and learning about their geographic origins and flavor characteristics.
World Gin Guide
Explores gin’s global footprint and regional variations, from traditional juniper-forward styles to innovative botanical blends. Useful for understanding how geography and culture shape gin production.