photo credit: Rowan of Ravara

To cover the complete history of wine, one would have to venture back thousands of years. The roots of wine are closely interwoven with agriculture, cuisine, civilization and human beings. Historical evidence suggests that wine finds its beginnings in places like Georgia and Iran and dates back between 6000 to 5000 BC. Some archaeological evidence points to grapevines being domesticated during the Early Bronze Age in the sites of Near East, Sumer and Egypt.

Some of the earliest history of wine being produced in Europe has been uncovered at archaeological digs sites in Macedonia. More than 1,500 years ago grapes were crushed and wine was being used during ceremonial rites in Egypt. Wild wines have also been traced in China from the 1st and 2nd millennium BC.

Wine was also quite common in Rome and Greece and many of the larger wine producing regions of Western Europe were established by Phoenician and Roman plantations. During the Roman Empire innovations such as the wine press, cultivation techniques and barrels used for storage and shipping were developed.

During medieval times in Europe, the country of Rome and wine production both experienced a decline, as a result the Christian Church became a strong supporter of wine because of its usage during the Catholic celebration of Mass. Although in some Islamic cultures the production of wine was forbidden, Muslim chemists were instrumental in the distillation of wine for cosmetics and medical use.

Much of the modern day culture surrounding wine comes from the Greeks. Though researchers cannot pinpoint exactly when wine made its appearance in ancient Greece, it was well known to both Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations. Many of the popular grapes used for wine production today are grown only in Greece, and are very similar to the types that were grown during ancient times.

Wine was a common drink consumed by all social classes during the Middle Ages. Some of the largest producers of wine in France and Germany were the Benedictine monks, soon other sects followed the trend and began to produce wine in other regions.

To provide the necessities for the Catholic Holy Eucharist, the Spanish conquistadors brought grapes and wheat to Latin America. The grapes were first planted at Spanish missions and one variety known as Mission grapes is still planted to date.

During periods of immigration, French, German and Italian grapes were first brought to America. The wines of America are closely associated with Argentina, California and Chile which range from inexpensive box wines to more high quality proprietary blends.

The first commercial winery in the United States was located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Founded by Nicholas Longworth in the mid 1830’s, the winery produced a sparkling wine made from Catawba grapes. During this time period, the Missouri wine industry centered around a Germany colony in Hermann, Missouri and this location was second only to California in total production.

Wine has only continued to grow in American popularity and with the advancements in research and development over the past several decades, American wines are better tasting and higher quality. Today, the production of wine is done in all 50 states with the predominant ones being California, Washington State, Oregon and New York. There are more than 3,000 commercial wineries in America and the number continues to grow every year.

From: DrinkMo.Com the Missouri Wine Club

Post from: Doctor Drink