In recent years, it has been discovered that the history of wine spans thouthands of years and that its production is closely related to the most ancient civilizations known. Why is it then that nowadays people gather in clubs and meetings to dicuss the qualities and characteristics of this peculiar drink?
Historical evidence proves that in ancient Egypt, grapes were cultivated and wine was used in religious ceremonies. More recent in time, during the Roman empire, the cultivation of grapes and drinking of wine was not only popular in Europe but also spread to every corner of the empire. The Romans played a key role in wine production, they were the first to create a wine press and to store it in barrels. Not to mention the fact than they also cultivated different types of grapes which paved the way to the enormous variety of wines available today.
Although the decline of the Roman empire affected wine producton.In Europe, the catholic church adopted wine to celebrete the holy mass.(163) By the fifteenth century,the popularity and production of this drink had outlived a devastating pest (Phylloxera: a Fly that affects grapevines) and its production bloomed all around the world.
Along with the Spanish and Portuguese colonies came the wine and the wheat. These two elements were needed to provide the natives with the Holy Eucharist (A christian sacrament, representing the last supper) . So, in what later came to be known as Latin America, only two countries, Chile and Argentina, were apt to cultivate grapes and thus produce their own wines.(220)
In Argentina. Malbec is considered the embematic grape. And Malbec wines produced in this country are exported around the globe because of its quality and similar features it shares with the French.
In the end, are we really intersted in wine? In it´s complexity of flavours and aromas ? Or Are we guided by fashion? The truth is we can´t deny the fact that people knows much more about wines nowadays then they used to. And all that knolwdge available make us even more curious. (
Fashion is always about change. As a consequence, wine is far from fashion, since now we know its been around for at least 4.500 years.
Celi! I certainly enjoyed this post! I've gained a lot more of insight into this topic! I would never have imagined that wine's existence dates back to the times of Egypcians!As to the question you raised,I find it hard to believe that wine drinkers do it for fashion's sake! I imagine that you as a person that loves wine ;) might then think that stupidity has gone way over the line, don't you?I guess this may even annoy you.People are just hilarious! I dunno..it's just that I cannot picture myself drinking or eating something just because it caught on,seriously.
ResponderEliminarEstefi...I´m glad you´ve enjoyed the article and that you´d foud it useful. I do like wine...I enjoy tryng to discover the characteristics it has. But mots of all, it interested me because of its symbolism in religion.Wine as the blood of christ.Undoubtly this historical background helps you realize why doesn´t it?
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