Vino! Vinum!
The latin word Vinum means grape juice fermented, but oh what an art it has become. Ever since it's first development in 6000 BC, in the area East of Ancient Greece in what is now Turkey, wine has held a sacred place in customs, diets, and social gatherings across the world. Few regions of mother earth are untouched by the cultivation and production of wine. In today's modern world, wine is not only highly consumed globally, but has also become a popular topic of discussion, and influence, especially in western civilization. Wine plays many very special roles in our cultures, ceremonies, and even in our health.
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The first written record of grape harvest specifically for the production of wine was written on stone tablets by the ancient Egyptians in 3000 BC. Egyptians believed wine was a gift from the gods, and Pharaohs insisted upon bottles of wine being buried with them to take on their journey to the underworld. Ancient Greece began cultivating vineyards around 1000 BC. The wines of ancient Greece were immortalized, and richly praised by historians, poets and artists. Like the Egyptians, Greeks believed wine was a privilege of upper-class society, as well as a gift from the gods. In Rome, there was also much importance placed on the cultivation of wine. As we moved into the dark ages, the art of winemaking was preserved for, and kept alive by select Christian monasteries, who developed some of the finest vineyards in the world. By the age of Shakespeare, wine was a standard part of the diet, and began to diversify into many varietals. Consumers began to value variety in wine drinking. Shakespearian people enjoyed wine immensely, and began to discuss its virtues with higher enthusiasm than ever before.
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In ancient times, wine was said to bring a higher state of consciousness to its drinkers, and was highly regarded as a source of comfort and courage, as it is today. Recently, scientific research has proven wine to have positive effects on health. In a 1980's medical study, scientists found that people consuming moderate amounts of red wine are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases. This became known as the 'French Paradox'.
Wine was then linked to the prevention of heart disease and cancer, due to the high levels of antioxidants in wine. It has been proven that these antioxidants inhibit the formation of cancer cells, as well as reducing the buildup of fatty cells in the arteries. Statistics have also shown that wine drinkers seem to have less of a chance of succumbing to Alzheimer's or senile dementia. Wine can also wipe out harmful bacteria responsible for stomach and digestion problems. These studies have given a whole new meaning to raising your glass "to good health". When Italians toast a glass of wine their words "Salud Chindon" are spoken meaning health for a hundred years.
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Today, wine makers have perfected the art of making wine. Through science and technology, wine makers can now achieve total physical control of every stage of the wine making process. Today's technological advances, however, challenge wine makers to produce wine for a tremendously large market, without sacrificing the character and individual flavors of the wines we have grown to love. American vineyards had the challenge of emulating some of the best varietals globally. The challenge was met, and today California wines rank among some of the highest quality in the world.
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Wine continues to play a large role in many religious ceremonies all over the world. Wine is also served at almost every personal celebration, such as weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and reunions. Wine is the biggest social beverage, and is shared today by billions of people all over the world. Today more Americans drink wine than ever before. In fact, in 2010 American consumption of wine surpassed even that of France which is now 2nd and Italy which is 3rd for wine consumption.
The United States has held steady as the 4th largest producer country in the world for wine production, exceeding over 2million tons produced every year of the 21st century. Exciting info graphic here.
Just as wine was considered an upper-class beverage in ancient times, today it is still a symbol of wealth, prosperity, and recently good health. We associate wine with everything from gourmet food, to special occasions, to art, and even still to religion. Whether celebrating at a classy social event, or enjoying a casual evening with friends, wine remains a staple beverage of American culture, especially in the art world. Wine is not considered to be hard liquor, nor is it by definition. "Hard liquor" is consumed to dilute perception, whereas wine is consumed to enhance perception.
Art especially has become widely associated with fine wine. Wine is the only alcohol perceived as naturally artistic, and is embraced and accepted in such close association by the art community. There is a true well-respected art to the process of producing fine wine. Winemakers are considered truly artists.