When most people think of wine, they automatically think of the sweeping vineyards of France and Italy, therefore it might surprise many to learn that the first indication of wine being produced was actually discovered in Georgia, the small former Russian country situated next to the Black Sea. There is evidence of wine production here dating back to 8,000 BC, therefore proving that wine really is something that has delighted the palette for over 10,000 years!
It seems that the craze for wine spread from the location of Georgia in all directions, with sites found in Iran, Armenia and Egypt dating from the following millennia. It wasn’t until the time of the Romans though that wine became a truly widespread drink and many people today still think of the Romans as constantly having a glass of their favorite red in their hand at all times. In fact, it was probably the Romans that accelerated the spread of wine throughout Europe – including into France – and therefore wine lovers have a lot to thank the Romans for.
Moving on through history, the wine industry began to go from strength to strength. The church fully supported its production in medieval times due to the religious connotations that it had, Islamic states under the control of the Ottoman Empire tried to ban it but failed, and during the 1300s and 1400s many areas of vineyards sprung up in some of today’s most famous locations – including Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux. Additionally the popular German wine Riesling was also first produced during the 1400s. As can be seen, while the Romans spread the love of wine throughout Europe, it was only during medieval times that producing wine was turned into an art form.
During the following centuries Europe became the hub of everything to do with wine; all of the most expensive bottles were produced there and most of the moneyed drinkers of this tipple also lived in Europe as well. In fact, it wasn’t until the 20th century that production of wine from other areas of the world really started to take off – with some amazing results.
Perhaps the most significant change that the 20th century saw in terms of wine was the rise of the United States in the industry. Up until the mid-20th century American wine had been rather looked down on by Europeans, but in 1976 the American vintners produced a remarkable showing at the Paris Wine Tasting – the premiere event in the wine lover’s calendar. After this showing, more success immediately followed and soon wine from California was recognized as an excellent choice. This was also the same for many South American countries, with Argentinian and Chilean wine becoming a regular fixture on tables throughout the world.
As we progress further into the 21st century the world of wine has moved a million miles from its original roots in Georgia. Now wines can be found from every corner of the world and a once localized industry has turned into not just a global phenomenon, but a way of life for many throughout the world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_wine
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