Some History of Wine
By: Jerry Shannon
Wine has been called the elixir of happiness - and not
without good reason. It is hard to imagine any party or celebration without any representative from
the vine. This is probably why people have always assumed that wine was born right next to man.
But how did wine really originate? Who came up with the idea of fermenting fruits with the purpose
of making the alcoholic beverages?
Records of the use of wine go back all the way to ancient Egypt in 2500 BC. But it is not
implausible that wine was used earlier than that. Evidence seems to point to the Ancient Middle
Eastern civilizations as the originators of wine.
Early man probably stumbled upon the wonders that fermentation did to fruits (especially grapes
with its high sugar content). Archaeological excavations have unearthed ancient wineries and
fermenting pools. This is a testament to the popularity and early knowledge about wines.
Wine, for that matter, has been used for a startling variety of purposes. In the early days, aside
from being the choice beverage for celebrations, wine was also used symbolically in religious
sacraments, and during taking vows. There is even evidence that wine was used as medicine for frail
countenances, and as an antiseptic for wounds. That is why wine has maintained an importance beyond
that of making one drunk.
The popularity of wine spread from the Old World and its cultures to the
newly found lands annexed by their empires. From here the cultivation of grapes needed for
winemaking spread to the lands of South America and Australia.
The enology, or the study of wine making, of different cultures has made for a dizzying variety of
wine. The main types of wine are Table Wines, Sparkling Wines, and Fortified Wines.
Table Wines are pressed grape juice that is allowed to ferment naturally - with or without a little
addition of sugar and yeast to aid the fermentation. These wines can be sweet or dry, depending on
the vinification (or fermentation style), and they typically have a low alcohol content of 7 to 15
percent.
Fortified Wines have additional alcohol content in them and are have typically 14 to 23 percent
alcohol in them.
Sparkling Wine was first discovered in the 18th century by a monk named Dom Pierre Perignon.
Sparkling Wine is wine witch has a bubbly texture to it lent by the carbon dioxide that forms
within it during the fermentation. Technically, it is a doubly fermented wine, with the second
fermentation happening in the bottle itself. Extra yeast and sugar is added to the wine to produce
carbon dioxide that builds up until the wine is uncorked.
About the Author
Want to find out about how to grow grapes
and grape plants?
Get tips from the Grape Facts website.
(ArticlesBase SC #711542)
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History of Wine
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