The consumption of wine goes back centuries and today still plays a huge role in the world. But how did a product like this come about? In this profile I will look to answer this question. Of course the subject of wine is very broad, so in this profile I will merely focus on how wine evolved over the centuries, what major problems it faced, and what significance it has today.
A Persian fable says that the discovery of wine was an accident (LaMar, 1999-2006). According to the fable, a Princess who lost favor with the King attempted suicide by consuming spoiled grapes that were kept in a
jar. However, she didn’t die. Instead, she became intoxicated and fell asleep. When she awoke, she regained her will to live and changed her attitude, which in turn led to regaining the King’s favor. The King shared his daughter’s discovery of grape spoilage with his court, and the invention of wine was born. Whether the fable is true or not can be debated. However, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology did conclude that winemaking dates back to the Neolithic period (8500 – 4000 BC), based on chemical analysis of a reddish residue found in a jar at the Hajji Firuz Tepe site in Iran.
The consumption of wine spread when the Greek civilization spread out over Europe around 1600 BC. They turned wine into a commercial product, and doctors started prescribing it to cure diseases. The Greeks also learned how to mask spoilage by adding herbs and spices. Viniculture really took off during the Roman era around 1000 BC. Wine became a huge part of the Roman diet, and they were the first to classify grapes, varieties and colors, observe and document the ripening process, identify diseases and soil preferences for growing the grapes, and start storing wine in barrels and bottles. With the expansion of the Empire, wine production also expanded throughout European provinces. As certain regions in Europe gained reputations, an early appellation system was formed. When the Empire fell around 500 AD, it was the beginning of the Dark Ages. The only stable structure then was the Catholic Church, which preserved grape growing and wine making. During medieval times, wine was only consumed by the Church and the relatively small noble and merchant classes, however it was absolutely necessary for the celebration of Catholic Mass, so it was important that production continued and that a good supply be kept. Benedictine monks became the largest producers of wine, who kept vineyards in Champagne, Burgundy, and Bordeaux in France, and the Rheingau and Franconia regions in Germany. They were the first to plant Riesling grapes in Germany and made viticulture into an industry, distributing all over Europe. Wine was considered civilized and a sign of conversion to Christianity (as opposed to beer, which was viewed as barbaric and Pagan) and was consumed at every meal, so to offset the large alcohol consumption, wine was often watered down at a ratio of one part wine to four or five parts water.
Wine was brought to Mexico, Argentina, and South Africa through settlements and exploration during the 1500s and 1600s. In 1769 the first grapes were planted in San Diego, California by Franciscan missionary Father Junipero Serra, who was called the “Father of California Wine.” The first imported European wine vines were planted in Los Angeles in 1833 by Jean-Louis Vignes. During the 1850s and 1860s, Agoston Harazsthy introduced 300 different grape varieties to California that he imported from 165 of the greatest vineyards in Europe. During this same period, a French chemist discovered that wine is made by microscopic organisms, yeasts. This discovery led to the development of different yeast types that ultimately led to better hygiene, less spoilage, and greater wine producing efficiency.
Then, in 1863, the unimaginable happened. Some species of native American vines were brought to England, which carried the root louse Phylloxera Vastatrix, which attacks and feeds on the vine roots and leaves. Native American varieties were resistant to this louse by evolving a thick root bark, but the European varieties had never been exposed to it before and weren’t immune. Over the course of two decades, this louse, as well as Downy Mildew and Powdery Mildew, destroyed nearly all vineyards in Europe, and even permanently destroyed some varieties that were indigenous to this area in the world. However, a horticulturist suggested grafting the vinifera vines onto native American hybrid rootsocks that were resistant, which allowed grape growing to continue and the wine industry to slowly regain strength.
During the 1800s the wine industry in the United States also faced a devastating problem. Due to a lack of a variety in entertainment, many people consumed alcoholic beverages in excessive amounts. As a result, a Prohibition Act went into effect in Indiana in 1816, which prohibited the sale of any kind of alcohol on Sunday. A few decades later many other states followed, and went legally “dry.” In 1851, Maine enacted the first statewide law that prohibited the manufacture and sale of alcohol. Many other states followed to the point where Congress passed the eighteenth amendment to the Constitution in 1920 that said that the manufacture, sale, distribution, as well as import and export of intoxicating liquors became forbidden and punishable as a Federal crime. As a result of this, the production of wine dropped 94% from 1919 to 1925. Only a few winemakers during this period were able to keep their business. It wasn’t until 1968 that table wine regained its popularity.
So how does wine get made? Wine is made by fermenting crushed grapes using different types of yeast, which converts the sugars in the grapes into alcohol. The type of wine is determined by what grape varieties and strains of yeast are used. There are hundreds of varieties of grapes worldwide today, but a few examples of popular grape varieties are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, etc. When a minimum of 75% to 85% of a grape variety is used, which is determined by law and varies by jurisdiction, the resulting wine is a varietal. This is opposed to wines that have grape varieties in smaller quantities, in which case they are called blended wines. The term “terroir” is also important in winemaking. Terroir is a concept that is used to denote the characteristics of wine, and encompasses the varieties of grapes used, elevation and shape of the vineyard, type and chemistry of soil, climate and seasonal conditions, and local yeast cultures. The differences in these factors yield different qualities in wine. France created an appellation system based on terroir that classifies wine from Vin du Table on one side to Appellation d’Origine Controlee on the other. This certification is not only used for wine, but also for cheeses and butters, and other agricultural products. European wines are classified according to the region in which the grapes were grown, for example Bordeaux or Chianti. Outside Europe, however, the classification is done by grape.
The significance of wine today is very extensive. It still is used for religious purposes. For example, in Jewish tradition, on Pesach, it is an obligation for men and women to drink four cups of wine. In the Christian religion, during the Last Supper, Jesus shared bread and wine with his disciples, and commanded his followers to do the same. Roman Catholics even hold that bread and wine are changed into the real body and blood of Christ (transubstantiation). Of course the use of wine goes well beyond those for religious purposes. Wine is also a way for people to connect, share experiences, and bond. More and more wine shops are being opened all across the United States, at which wine tasting events are organized. People can sign up for newsletters, and join groups that coordinate elaborate dinners in which wine and food are paired. Many wine making classes are also now offered through colleges and universities, and even degrees can be earned in this specialization. Personally I have also helped out as a volunteer at local wineries, at which I was offered the opportunity to learn how to crush grapes, bottle wine, label bottles, and so on. It is even possible to buy a cheap “do-it-yourself” kit to make wine at home.
Wine has evolved greatly over centuries; from an accidental invention of wine to the spread of wine across the world, and from the near-death of wine to the rise in popularity of wine, making it an accessible product for everyone. Its importance has already been proven, be it in religion or social situations. What will happen to wine in the future?
Sources
Beer100.com, “History of Wine” Retrieved on May 26, 2008 from http://www.beer100.com/history/winehistory.htm.
LaMar, Jim (1999-2004). “Wine 101 – History”. Professionall Friends of Wine. Retrieved on May 26, 2008 from http://www.winepros.org/wine101/history.htm.
University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. “The Origins and Ancient History of Wine”. Retrieved on May 26, 2008 from http://www.museum.upenn.edu/new/exhibits/
online_exhibits/wine/wineintro.html.
Wikipedia. “Wine.” Retrieved on May 26, 2008 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine.
My mom introduced me to wine, so she essentially passed on her enthusiasm for the drink to me, which I can hopefully do one day for my own kids.
Having read the article “Japanese Mothers and Obentos: The Lunch-box as Ideological State Apparatus,” I understand the bento lunch box to be a very big deal in Japan. So when I started constructing my bento for a classmate, I felt a pressure to make it very nice, if not impressive, which was harder than I anticipated. The different shapes, colors and flavors left plenty of room for creativity, but in combination with the rather small box to put it all in, it proved pretty challenging. There were also some foods that I have little experience experimenting with, so making a good combination of flavors is not an easy task.
