Lesson 1 History of Wine

Lesson 1 History of Wine

Objectives After reading this chapter, you should be able to discuss the historical origins of winemaking. describe the influence of the Greek and Roman civilizations on winemaking. explain the role of the church in winemaking during the Middle Ages. describe the economic cycles of grape growing and winemaking.

Introduction Wine has been an integral part of the human experience for nearly 70 centuries. Wine is the result of the fermentation of juice from grapes. Fermentation is a natural process that acts to stabilize grape juice and allow it to be stored as wine for later consumption. The alcohol in wine that is produced by fermentation also prevents the growth of pathogenic microorganisms.

Introduction (continued) Over the centuries different cultures have had contrasting opinions on wine. Some regard it as an essential and healthful beverage, others have shunned its use and consider it sinful. These competing ideas have influenced the development of wine during the course of history, and continue to affect its place in society today.

The History of Wine Wine was first consumed in the areas of Persia (modern day Iran) around 5000 to 6000 BC. Though the exact nature of the wine is uncertain, it was probably made from dates or other tree fruits native to the region rather than grapes. Around 3000 BC, winemaking from grapes began with the Egyptians and the Phoenicians producing wines from grapes.

The History of Wine (continued) Ancient Egyptian artwork and sculptures provide a great deal of information about the winemaking practices of the time. The paintings indicate that wine production had evolved into an elaborate procedure. Containers of wine have been found in royal burial chambers for the dead to enjoy in the afterlife. The vessels were marked with the origin and vintage of the grapes that produced the wine.

Ancient Greece By 2000 BC, wine had become an important part of Greek culture. Beginning around 1000 BC, the expansion of the Greek empire brought vineyards and winemaking to regions throughout the Mediterranean basin. Including parts of North Africa, Southern Spain, southwest France, Sicily, and much of the Italian mainland.

Ancient Greece (continued) The wine was most likely made from dried grapes or raisins. The Greeks stored their wines in containers called amphorae. Like the Egyptians before them, wine occupied a large place in Greek society and The Greeks created a deity, Dionysus, in honor of wine.

The Roman Era Though the growing of wine grapes in Italy predated the rise of the Roman Empire by many centuries, the Romans took viticulture and winemaking to a new height. They began the practice of trellising vines off the ground by training them to grow up trees. The Romans' technological advances in winemaking were thoroughly documented in literature and art. The Romans were first-rate barrel makers or coopers, and storage in wooden barrels as well as in clay amphorae was common.

The Roman Era (continued) As it had with the Greeks, Roman viticulture and winemaking followed Roman legions as they pushed the boundaries of their empire north and westward. The Romans grew grapes throughout Italy, expanded the vineyards of Spain north to the Pyrenees, throughout what is now modern Portugal and France, and around the first century they continued the expansion into what is now modern Germany.

The Roman Era (continued) The Romans were keen observers of the agricultural process. Books, dating from as early as the third century BC, describe grape growing and winemaking in detail. Their knowledge of matching grape varieties to soils and climates, trellising, and other growing techniques form the basis for many contemporary practices. The medicinal qualities of wine were also highly regarded by the Romans.

The Middle Ages The fall of Rome, at the end of the second century, ushered in a long period of great strife throughout the civilized world. Wars between the Franks, Teutons, and Goths brought widespread destruction. In the seventh century AD, the Moors of North Africa crossed the Straits of Gibraltar and invaded Spain. Although the Moors Islamic faith prevented them from consuming alcohol, they allowed viticulture and winemaking to continue in the region.

The Middle Ages (continued) During the Middle Ages, the practice of agricultural activity in much of Europe fell to the Catholic Church. Some of the monasteries became great centers of study and commerce. In the early seventh century, Pope Gregory the Great instructed the monastic orders to expand wine production, and the planting of wine grapes again began to spread. The church kept strict control of winemaking. Grapes were required to be pressed in monasteries, for which a donation of ten percent of production was taken.

The Middle Ages (continued) Monks continued the study of viticulture (grape growing) and winemaking (enology) begun by their Roman predecessors. Matching grape varieties to soil conditions and climate, propagation and planting, trellising, crushing, fermenting, fining, and storage were all meticulously studied and improved. Villages formed around monasteries, many growing into cities of 20,000 or more. Farmers began using the skills learned from the monks to improve and expand their own vineyards.

Twelfth Century to Modern Times By the end of the fifteenth century, the great European Renaissance was well underway. Literally a rebirth in creative thinking, the Renaissance was to have a profound effect on religion, philosophy, science, and art. The monastic orders became easy targets for religious reformers, and it wasn t long before their economic and political hold on the populace began to fade. By the end of the seventeenth century, much of the church s vineyard holdings had been broken up and passed back into private hands.

The Introduction of Champagne The early eighteenth century saw the widespread use of cork as a bottle stopper and the development of sparkling wine or Champagne. This is more than a coincidence because Champagne bottles require a good seal. Although the Benedictine monk, Dom Perignon, is often credited with the discovery of Champagne, he probably produced them by accident and others developed the techniques of production. Cork revolutionized the storing and aging of wines, making it possible to age them for long periods and to ship them in bottles to distant markets.

Golden Age of Wine It was in the ninetieth century, though, that wine enjoyed its greatest advances and suffered one of its most devastating blows. The advent of modern studies of chemistry and microbiology brought a deeper understanding of the winemaking process, and the laboratory soon began playing a major role in winemaking. This better understanding of technology, combined with the knowledge gained by centuries of trial and error in European vineyards, resulted in huge advances in the quality of wine.

Golden Age of Wine (continued) As the science and caliber of wine took a leap forward, wine appreciation in the modern sense was born. Attracted to the glamour of winemaking, the wealthy soon began buying up vineyards throughout Europe labeling their products with both their family and estate names. The French established a system to classify their vineyards.

Phylloxera In the second half of the ninetieth century, disaster struck in the form of a microscopic root louse, phylloxera, that is native to the eastern United States. The pest was brought to France on a ship carrying grapevines that were native to North America. By 1868, phylloxera had been identified in southern France. Within 20 years, it spread throughout the country, destroying most of the vineyards. By 1874, it had also infected Germany, and soon all the vineyards of Europe were infected.

Phylloxera (continued) It was not until growers began replanting their vineyards with rootstocks from North America that were resistant to the pest that Europe s winemaking industry was revived. This practice is still used today where phylloxera is present.

Wine Today Since the early 1970s, the wine world has been undergoing another huge transformation in both the Old and New Worlds. Where before there were only a handful of producers making high-quality wines, today there are thousands of producers throughout the world making excellent wines.

Wine Today (continued) Behind this explosion of quality producers lies a greater consumer interest in fine wines and the broader availability of state-of-the-art technology and winemaking expertise. New technology in both the vineyard and winery is widespread throughout the world.

Globalization In Europe, the lesser known regions of southern France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Hungary, and even the former countries of the Eastern Block are now making wines that are on par with those of some of the best traditional growing regions. In the United States, New York, Washington, Oregon, Virginia, and Texas are now recognized wine producers. Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, Hungary, and South Africa have also become known for producing wines of excellent value.

Economic Cycles in the Wine Business Wine, because it is made from grapes, is considered an agricultural product, and like many other agricultural products, it exhibits a boom and bust economic pattern. Because of the time it takes to establish a new vineyard, get a crop from its vines, and then produce a wine from its grapes, it is very difficult for growers and vintners to respond to changing market conditions.

Summary In the Old World there is now a movement to blend new technology with traditional grapes and winemaking techniques. New World countries like Chile and Australia have invested heavily in new vineyards and wineries to take advantage of the export market. While total wine consumption worldwide is falling, demand for premium wines in Europe, North America, and the Far East continues to grow. This has been matched by increased plantings throughout the world to meet the anticipated need.

Summary (continued) In the United States demand for California wines has been tempered by inexpensive imports from South America and Australia. The wine business climate today is similar to one that existed during the early 1980s when excess production of grapes and wine led to reasonably priced, high-quality wines that brought in many new consumers. These new wine drinkers in turn helped to fuel new growth.