"The world of wine is a divided one," says Chris Boersma, the beverage manager for 208 Duecento Otto restaurant in Hong Kong. "For starters, there's more than one world. There are two: old and new."

The Old World is Europe, where the tradition of winemaking goes back millennia. Everywhere else that wine is produced—notably, North America and a number of nations in the Southern Hemisphere—is generally referred to as the New World.

"Recently the lines are blurring between the two worlds," says Mr. Boersma. With the relaxation of classification laws that limit winemakers' practices, many in the Old World are beginning to experiment with new tastes and blends. At the same time, New World winemakers are developing their own traditions and building more structure -- to add more levels of taste and texture -- into their wines.

"Don't pit the Old and the New against each other," says Mr. Boersma. "Just know what you're in the mood for, and whether it's something old or something new, there's going to be something for everybody."

Here are a few keys to understanding the basic differences between the two worlds.