The origin of wine
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There are different opinions about the origin of wine. Some say that it originated in ancient Egypt, or ancient Greece, or Crete, Greece. According to the research and analysis of the existing wine archives, it is more precise that our ancestors brewed wine 10,000 years ago, and the wine culture has been passed down to this day.
According to historical data, grape cultivation and brewing technology spread to Greece with travelers and conquerors of new territories from Asia Minor (Asia Minor) and Egypt before reaching Greece and its islands. Crete, then via Sicily in Italy, Libya and Italy in North Africa, from the sea to the Provence region and the coastal areas of Spain in the Var Province (Var) in the southeastern part of France on the Mediterranean Sea; at the same time, by land, Entering the countries of Central Europe from the Danube River Valley in Europe.
In the above-mentioned earliest birthplace, in the course of life and work, wild grapes that had long been growing in nature were accidentally discovered, thus brewing the most primitive beverage, which was later called wine. With the discovery and application of fire, humans entered the era of fishing, hunting, livestock raising and agriculture. During this long period of time, grain seeds and grape seedlings or grape vines have been spread around the world, making great contributions to human survival and development.
Archaeologists have proven that humans began making wine in the Neolithic Age 10,000 years ago. It is generally believed that wine originated in ancient Persia in 6000 BC, when grape growing and wine making began.
In the Neolithic Age, Anatolia (Aratolia (anciently known as Asia Minor), Georgia and Armenia in the Transcaucasus, which are on the edge of the Black Sea), have become areas inhabited by tribes. This is because these areas had a mild climate and fertile land at that time, so primitive tribesmen who were far away from the area moved here to settle. Grapes are grown in the tree-lined hilly areas, while agriculture is practiced in the vast fields of the plains. As a result, viticulture and winemaking spread increasingly to distant places.
In Greece, during archaeological excavations, a relief sculpture from the second century BC was found on the tomb wall in an ancient tomb; the Greek god Apollo (Apollon) and the goddess of victory (Victoire)** *A landscape offering grapes to God; the ancient Greeks loved wine. Wine is mentioned many times in Homer’s epic poems. The ancient Greek god of wine was Dionysos.
In ancient Egypt, especially in the Nile Valley, archaeologists discovered a kind of wine with a small round bottom and a thick belly from the tombs excavated. A round, large-necked earthen jar containing liquid as a funerary object; after research, it has been proven that this was an earthenware jar used by ancient Egyptians to hold wine or oil; in the ancient tomb of Nakht during the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt , a mural (fresco) was unearthed, in which there is a noble lady standing facing slightly to the left and wearing a white dress. Starting from her left heel, going from her head to her right heel, she is decorated with a bunch of grape vine leaves. It is surrounded by ornaments, and on both sides, there is a wolf-headed figure on the left, and a beautiful young lady on the right. They each hold an oblong wine glass as if pouring wine on the hostess's head.
When the armies of the ancient Roman Empire conquered the European continent, they also promoted grape planting and wine making. In the 1st century AD, they conquered Gaul (today's France), and French wine originated. The first grapes were planted in France. Southern Rh?ne Valley. Arriving in the Bordeaux region in the 2nd century. The ancient Romans loved wine, and some historians attributed the decline of the ancient Roman Empire to the degeneration of the race due to excessive drinking by the ancient Romans. The ancient Roman god of wine was Bacchus.
The development of wine in the Middle Ages benefited from the Christian Church. Wine is mentioned 521 times in the Bible. Jesus said at the last supper, "The bread is my flesh and the wine is my blood." Christianity regards wine as the holy blood, and church personnel regard grape growing and wine making as work. For example, the wine production in the Burgundy region of France is attributed to the careful cultivation of the monks and the preferences of the popes who moved from Rome to Avignon.
Wine spread around the world with the missionaries. The introduction of Western wine to China in the 17th century was also done by missionaries.
In 1864, a plague of grape aphids swept through France, and most of the vineyards in France were destroyed. Fortunately, people invented the invention of grafting French grape branches onto insect-resistant American grape roots, which made French grape cultivation impossible. Good luck.
According to historical records:
About 4,000 years after the birth of Jesus Christ, due to sea and land transportation, the distance between time and space was shortened, and the wine culture spread through articles or poems written by literati. . Egypt at this time, although its agriculture. Handicrafts and navigation were already well developed, but the dawn of their progress was just beginning to emerge…. But by around 1085 BC, it is said that Osiris, the god of hell in Egyptian mythology, was recognized as the god of vines and wines;
As for France, Over the course of history, neighboring Italy has become the most developed country in the four continents of the world in planting grapes and making wine, and has benefited greatly from it. Of course, France’s climate and geographical environment are suitable for the growth of grapes to varying degrees. In the three months starting from August, from south to north, the entire France is in the joyful grape harvest period. During this period, France’s grape-producing areas indulged in the mellow joy of tasting new grape wine.
According to the works of two famous French painters:
A painting painted by the French painter Nicolas Poussin from 1574 to 1665 AD. : In autumn, a group of migrant workers from Palestine were picking bunches of ripe grapes in a French vineyard and putting them into nearby baskets;
From 1789 to 1863 AD, the French painter Eugène Delac A large mural by Eugere Delocrcix: the Greek god Bacchus is feeding wine contained in a large pottery basin to a large lion.
In addition, French scholars discovered a relief from the first century BC in a tomb, showing a wine seller selling wine to a consumer.
Looking at the above historical stories, wine provides a brand-new drink for all mankind, and also provides a source of happiness for the survival and development of human society. As for the origin of wine, it is no longer important. It is left to historians to continue to explore and study academic issues. For modern people, drinking wine, especially expensive wine, is a wonderful enjoyment. And created a lot of wealth for mankind.
The history of wine
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Archaeologists have proven that grape culture can be traced back to the 4th century BC. The winemaking technology of grapes with unclear origins has never stopped improving, and in fact this is a natural development process.
For centuries, wine was an artisanal workshop product with a short shelf life. Today's large-scale commercial wine production owes its existence to inventions such as high-quality glass and airtight cork stoppers, as well as the 19th-century French pharmacologist Pasteur's discovery of the microstructure of fermentation.
The evolution and development of wine are closely linked to the development of Western civilization. Wine was probably discovered somewhere in the ancient Fertile Crescent (Mesopotamia in present-day Iraq) region, a vast farming area from the Nile River to the Persian Gulf. Early civilizations in this region (4000 to 3000 BC) are attributed to the fertile soil, and it is also where wine grapes first began to flourish. As city gangs prospered to replace primitive agricultural tribes, ancient seafaring peoples with territorial ambitions—from the earliest Phoenicians (today’s Syria) to the later Greeks and Romans—also planted grape vines extensively. The knowledge of winemaking spread throughout the Mediterranean and throughout Europe.
When the Roman Empire fell in the fifth century AD, the Christian monasteries in the splintered Western Roman Empire (France, northern Italy and parts of Germany) recorded in detail the grape harvest and winemaking process. These meticulous records help develop grape varieties that are best suited for growing in specific farming areas. The power of Charlemagne, who ruled the Western Roman Empire from 768 to 814 AD, also affected the subsequent development of wine.
The great emperor foresaw the prospect of vineyards spreading from southern France to northern Germany. The grandcru Corton-Charlemagne in the famous Burgundy region was once his. industry.
Under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I, the British Empire became a maritime power with a powerful ocean-going merchant fleet. Her maritime trade brought wine to Britain from many European wine-producing countries. Britain's demand for spirits also contributed to the development of sherry, port and Madeira.
At the same time as the American Revolutionary War, France was recognized as the greatest wine-producing country. Thomas Jefferson (the drafter of the American Declaration of Independence) enthusiastically discussed wine grades in letters to friends, and also advocated transplanting European grape varieties to the New World. Most of these early attempts to plant and harvest grapes in the American colonies failed, and in the process of exchanging and transplanting native American tree species with European tree species, they inadvertently introduced a pest that has seriously harmed grape vines. Coming to Europe, the result was the grape phylloxera at the end of the 19th century, which destroyed most of the European vineyards. However, if there is anything to be grateful for in this disaster, it is that the devastation of vineyards inspired new agricultural techniques and the redistribution of Europe's wine-making territory.
Since the 20th century, advances in farming technology have allowed winemakers everywhere to protect their crops from common infestations such as mold and animal pests. The cultivation and brewing process of grapes gradually became scientific. At the same time, this century also saw widespread legislation to encourage the production of wines with good credit and good quality. Today, wine is produced in temperate climate regions around the world, and there are a considerable number of different wine categories available to consumers to choose from. From early agricultural society to the present, the progress of winemaking can be said to be a fascinating and legendary history; it also reveals the fundamental significance of wine in Western culture.