The competing countries
Australia
Regions: Yarra Valley, Margaret River, Adelaide Hills, Hunter Valley, McLaren Vale, Tasmania, and many more besides...
Important grapes: Shiraz, Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon
Climate: Mostly hot, mostly dry, mixture of continental and maritime - it's a big place!
Footballing prospects: From an English perspective, be thankful they're not good at everything. There aren't many sides in with less of a chance in Brazil.
Vinous prospects: The original usurper took a plunge, but is back on the up with one of the most exciting new wine scenes in the world
Regions: Yarra Valley, Margaret River, Adelaide Hills, Hunter Valley, McLaren Vale, Tasmania, and many more besides...
Important grapes: Shiraz, Chardonnay, Riesling, Cabernet Sauvignon
Climate: Mostly hot, mostly dry, mixture of continental and maritime - it's a big place!
Footballing prospects: From an English perspective, be thankful they're not good at everything. There aren't many sides in with less of a chance in Brazil.
Vinous prospects: The original usurper took a plunge, but is back on the up with one of the most exciting new wine scenes in the world
Brazil
Regions: Serra Gaucha, Campanha, Serra do Sudeste, Campos de Cima da Serra, Planalto Catarinense, Vale do Sao Francisco
Important grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Muscat, Tannat
Climate: Mostly humid and tropical
Footballing prospects: Always pretty darn good. As hosts, clear favourites.
Vinous prospects: On the up, definitely one to watch.
Regions: Serra Gaucha, Campanha, Serra do Sudeste, Campos de Cima da Serra, Planalto Catarinense, Vale do Sao Francisco
Important grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Muscat, Tannat
Climate: Mostly humid and tropical
Footballing prospects: Always pretty darn good. As hosts, clear favourites.
Vinous prospects: On the up, definitely one to watch.
Croatia
Regions: Istria, Dalmatia
Important grapes: Plavac Mali, Teran, Malvasia, Welschriesling, Refosco, Posip, Vugava, Grasevina
Climate: Warmly Mediterranean
Footballing prospects: Used to be there or thereabouts, but this year they don't stand much of a chance - especially in the opening fixture against the hosts
Vinous prospects: A reawakening ancient region, with premium wines made from indigenous grape varieties that put more established regions in their place
Regions: Istria, Dalmatia
Important grapes: Plavac Mali, Teran, Malvasia, Welschriesling, Refosco, Posip, Vugava, Grasevina
Climate: Warmly Mediterranean
Footballing prospects: Used to be there or thereabouts, but this year they don't stand much of a chance - especially in the opening fixture against the hosts
Vinous prospects: A reawakening ancient region, with premium wines made from indigenous grape varieties that put more established regions in their place
England
Regions: Cornwall, Dorset, Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey, Kent
Important grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Ortega, Bacchus, Seyval Blanc
Climate: Marginal, wishing 'twere Mediterranean
Footballing prospects: Regularly flatter to deceive; may wilt in the South American heat.
Vinous prospects: For sparkling wines, swiftly joining the world elite; for still wines, bumbling along with a few bright sparks but more to come in future...
Regions: Cornwall, Dorset, Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey, Kent
Important grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Ortega, Bacchus, Seyval Blanc
Climate: Marginal, wishing 'twere Mediterranean
Footballing prospects: Regularly flatter to deceive; may wilt in the South American heat.
Vinous prospects: For sparkling wines, swiftly joining the world elite; for still wines, bumbling along with a few bright sparks but more to come in future...
Germany
Regions: Mosel, Nahe, Pfalz, Rheingau, Rheinhessen
Important grapes: Riesling, Pinot Noir, Dornfelder, Portugieser... and increasingly unlikely grapes like Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Climate: Marginal continental climate
Footballing prospects: By hook or by crook, always contenders. Irritatingly good.
Vinous prospects: One of the classically great regions, but fell by the wayside; now Riesling and Germany generally is steadily finding its true voice once more. We pray.
Regions: Mosel, Nahe, Pfalz, Rheingau, Rheinhessen
Important grapes: Riesling, Pinot Noir, Dornfelder, Portugieser... and increasingly unlikely grapes like Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Climate: Marginal continental climate
Footballing prospects: By hook or by crook, always contenders. Irritatingly good.
Vinous prospects: One of the classically great regions, but fell by the wayside; now Riesling and Germany generally is steadily finding its true voice once more. We pray.
Spain
Regions: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Galicia, Castilla y Leon, Catalonia, Andalucia, Canary Islands, Navarra
Important grapes: Tempranillo is the biggest of the lot, plus Garnacha (Grenache), Albarino, Verdejo, Viura, Bobal, Xarello, Godello, Monastrell (Mourvedre) and all sorts of other interesting little things
Climate: Maritime, Mediterranean, continental, some high altitude but mainly hot and dry
Footballing prospects: As reigning champions they're up there with the hosts, but fading ever so slightly as a footballing force
Vinous prospects: Few countries offer as much excitement, variety and great value - but only if you scratch under the relatively monochrome surface
Regions: Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Galicia, Castilla y Leon, Catalonia, Andalucia, Canary Islands, Navarra
Important grapes: Tempranillo is the biggest of the lot, plus Garnacha (Grenache), Albarino, Verdejo, Viura, Bobal, Xarello, Godello, Monastrell (Mourvedre) and all sorts of other interesting little things
Climate: Maritime, Mediterranean, continental, some high altitude but mainly hot and dry
Footballing prospects: As reigning champions they're up there with the hosts, but fading ever so slightly as a footballing force
Vinous prospects: Few countries offer as much excitement, variety and great value - but only if you scratch under the relatively monochrome surface
United States
Regions: California, Oregon, Washington, New York, Virginia
Important grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Riesling, Viognier, Cabernet Franc
Climate: Such a range on such a vast continent, it's impossible to generalise
Footballing prospects: Very little to write home about, but they rarely fail to be competitive
Vinous prospects: If you look further afield than Napa Valley, very exciting, from cooler climates like New York to warmer climates like Virginia, though the best wines are still hard to find over here
Regions: California, Oregon, Washington, New York, Virginia
Important grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Riesling, Viognier, Cabernet Franc
Climate: Such a range on such a vast continent, it's impossible to generalise
Footballing prospects: Very little to write home about, but they rarely fail to be competitive
Vinous prospects: If you look further afield than Napa Valley, very exciting, from cooler climates like New York to warmer climates like Virginia, though the best wines are still hard to find over here
Uruguay
Regions: Canelones, Maldonado, Colonia
Important grapes: Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc
Climate: Maritime temperate
Footballing prospects: Having won the World Cup twice already (including once in Brazil), Uruguay are up for repeating the 1950s story
Vinous prospects: Rising star and a niche player, too small to compete in the mass production but good enough to beat the best
Regions: Canelones, Maldonado, Colonia
Important grapes: Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc
Climate: Maritime temperate
Footballing prospects: Having won the World Cup twice already (including once in Brazil), Uruguay are up for repeating the 1950s story
Vinous prospects: Rising star and a niche player, too small to compete in the mass production but good enough to beat the best
