YIN YANG WINE
Wine has been a popular beverage of mankind for thousands of years. Our natural fondness of this drink stems from the wonderful taste, its nutritious properties and not least its psychotropic (intoxicating) effects.
Out of all alcoholic drinks, none has had such an impact on society. The trade of wine between cultures opened up channels for religious and philosophical ideas to spread across Europe. Wine is also frequently mentioned in the bible from Noah and his grape vines to Jesus, as perhaps the finest winemaker to date.
Wine is to this day used in the Catholic Church as a substitute for the blood of Christ, which is an indication of the key role the beverage has played in years gone by. Centuries ago, a wine industry was also the mark of a provident country, as only developed societies could support a prosperous and competitive wine industry. It is often said that western society built its foundations on wine.
Out of all alcoholic drinks, none has had such an impact on society. The trade of wine between cultures opened up channels for religious and philosophical ideas to spread across Europe. Wine is also frequently mentioned in the bible from Noah and his grape vines to Jesus, as perhaps the finest winemaker to date.
Wine is to this day used in the Catholic Church as a substitute for the blood of Christ, which is an indication of the key role the beverage has played in years gone by. Centuries ago, a wine industry was also the mark of a provident country, as only developed societies could support a prosperous and competitive wine industry. It is often said that western society built its foundations on wine.
HOW WINE FARED OUTSIDE OF EUROPE?
Now on to new world wines such as Australia and the Americas. These wines are often looked down upon as inferior to European wine. Although they are now starting to produce some exquisite wines, it must also be said that these countries supply a large amount of standard table wine and less fine wine compared to Europe. There isn’t much history to the Americas and Australia, as they are recently founded countries. Therefore, the accounts will be brief
Wine was first brought to South America by the Spanish and once again purely for religious reasons. Wine arrived in North America via the colonists fleeing from religious persecution to start a new life in the new world.
Not surprisingly, there were many Catholics in the mix and as I’ve mentioned before wine is deeply rooted in Catholicism. California is the largest producer of wine in the USA at the moment. The wines in America are named after the grape variety used rather than in France where they, of course, named them after the region of origin.
Initially, wine was shunned as it was thought of as too European and of course not welcome in the newly founded United States of America. Even if they had been keen to make wine, they had little time with which to do so as they were rather busy taming the new world they lived in.
Wine was first brought to South America by the Spanish and once again purely for religious reasons. Wine arrived in North America via the colonists fleeing from religious persecution to start a new life in the new world.
Not surprisingly, there were many Catholics in the mix and as I’ve mentioned before wine is deeply rooted in Catholicism. California is the largest producer of wine in the USA at the moment. The wines in America are named after the grape variety used rather than in France where they, of course, named them after the region of origin.
Initially, wine was shunned as it was thought of as too European and of course not welcome in the newly founded United States of America. Even if they had been keen to make wine, they had little time with which to do so as they were rather busy taming the new world they lived in.
The popularity of wine hasn’t grown much and the US public still remain largely beer drinkers. Only 30% of the population have come to realise the far superior experience of wine drinking. Of that 30%, a whopping 75% of the wine they drink is made in America. As you can see, there is still a slightly isolationist approach to wine in America. Australia had similar problems with producing wine earlier on, as they too were a new country and had even more hostile surroundings to tame.
The only advancement that has been made by these countries is the way they make their oak barrels for the aging fine wine. It was thought that French oak was the best for imparting its flavour into wine. This was mainly because American oaks (as well as oak from many other countries) had been used to make barrels, but the effect of the wood on the wine was far too great.
It was later discovered that it wasn’t the wood that was the problem, but the way the barrels were made. As the Americans were more accustomed to making whiskey barrels they dried their wood in a kiln, unlike the coopers who let their wood air dry for at least 24 months before using.
The other difference was that the Americans sawed the wood into staves, whereas the coopers split the wood. These differences to the technique used immediately made a substantial difference to the wine produced. After this discovery, the Americas and Australia were finally able to start making some quality fine wine. This is perhaps still not quite as good as the finest French wine, but they are getting there and in the future may even give the French a run for their money.
The only advancement that has been made by these countries is the way they make their oak barrels for the aging fine wine. It was thought that French oak was the best for imparting its flavour into wine. This was mainly because American oaks (as well as oak from many other countries) had been used to make barrels, but the effect of the wood on the wine was far too great.
It was later discovered that it wasn’t the wood that was the problem, but the way the barrels were made. As the Americans were more accustomed to making whiskey barrels they dried their wood in a kiln, unlike the coopers who let their wood air dry for at least 24 months before using.
The other difference was that the Americans sawed the wood into staves, whereas the coopers split the wood. These differences to the technique used immediately made a substantial difference to the wine produced. After this discovery, the Americas and Australia were finally able to start making some quality fine wine. This is perhaps still not quite as good as the finest French wine, but they are getting there and in the future may even give the French a run for their money.
By Jackie Wynne
