Mapping the World of Wine: How Steve De Long Brings Wine Regions to Life

In this episode of the Vint Wine Podcast, we sit down with Steve De Long, founder of De Long Wine and one of the wine world’s leading cartographers, to explore his journey from architecture to creating some of the most detailed and visually compelling wine maps available today. Steve shares how he approaches mapping complex regions, the challenges of working with official wine laws and overlapping appellations, and the growing demand for detailed subregional and single-vineyard maps. He also discusses the evolution of his design style, the balance between visual beauty and absolute accuracy, and how maps can deepen our understanding of terroir.🎧 In this conversation:How Steve transitioned from architecture to wine cartographyThe research process behind accurate, accessible wine mapsWhy Italy remains one of the hardest regions to mapHow detailed subregional maps are changing wine educationThe role of thoughtful design in making complex wine regions easier to understandChapters:00:00 Introduction to the Vint Wine Podcast00:28 Special Guest: Steve De Long, the Wine Map Maker01:14 Giveaway Announcement: Win a Wine Map02:19 Wine News: Canary Islands and Phylloxera04:28 Exploring Austrian Sauvignon Blanc06:18 Interview with Steve D  Long Begins08:15 Steve De Long's Journey from Architecture to Wine Maps17:20 Challenges and Details in Wine Map Making23:52 Transition to New Map Styles25:50 Current Map Offerings28:08 Evolution of Wine Mapping28:24 Relocating to London29:20 Wine Tasting Tools and Guides30:42 The Complexity of Wine39:38 Future of Wine Mapping45:21 Conclusion and FarewellWhether you’re a wine student, educator, or collector, this episode offers a fascinating insider’s look at the intersection of geography, design, and wine.The Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email [email protected]!