Are you curious about everything about wine? Let’s go together to the world of wine, a fascinating drink that has been with human history.
1. Origin and History of Wine
The history of wine is very old. According to archaeological evidence and records, wine is believed to have been first made about 8,000 years ago, **around 6,000 BC in the ancient Near East (near present-day Georgia, Armenia, and Iran)**. It is likely that wine was created accidentally through natural fermentation of wild grapes.
Ancient Civilizations:
- Egypt: By 3000 BC, systematic grape cultivation and winemaking techniques had already been developed in Egypt. Wine jars have been found in the tombs of pharaohs, and murals depict grape harvesting and winemaking in detail.
- Greece: Ancient Greece worshipped wine as the drink of the gods. The myth of Dionysus (Bacchus) shows how important wine was in Greek culture. The Greeks developed winemaking techniques and spread grape cultivation and wine culture by establishing colonies along the Mediterranean.
- Rome: The Roman Empire adopted and further developed the wine culture of Greece. Along with the construction of roads, they expanded vineyards, cultivated various varieties, and established a system for storing and distributing wine. Roman wine spread throughout Europe, and became the foundation of the European wine industry today.
Middle Ages: After the fall of the Roman Empire, European viticulture and winemaking techniques were maintained and developed mainly in monasteries . Monks helped improve the quality of vineyards and wine by cultivating them. The winemaking traditions of Burgundy and Bordeaux began at this time.
After the modern era: After the Age of Exploration in the 15th century, wine was introduced to the New World, and new wine-producing countries emerged. In the 19th century, European vineyards were greatly damaged by a grapevine disease called phylloxera, but grafting technology helped overcome the crisis and lead to the development of a modern wine industry.
2. Wine making process
Wine is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting grape juice. The basic manufacturing process is as follows:
- Harvesting: Ripe grapes are harvested by hand or machine. The harvest time is determined by the grape variety, growing region, and desired wine style.
- Crushing & Pressing: The harvested grapes are gently pressed to obtain grape juice (must). In the case of red wine, they are sometimes crushed instead of pressed to ferment the skins and seeds together. For white wine, only the juice is fermented after removing the skins and seeds.
- Fermentation: The fermentation process involves adding yeast to grape juice to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide. Fermentation is carried out with precise control of temperature and duration. Red wine is usually fermented at 20-32°C, and white wine at 15-20°C.
- Aging: After fermentation is complete, wine undergoes an aging process to improve flavor and texture. Aging takes place in a variety of containers, including oak barrels, stainless steel tanks, and bottles, and the aging period can take from a few months to several decades, depending on the type and style of wine.
- Bottling: After maturing, the wine is filtered and stabilized before being bottled. Some fine wines undergo additional maturation after bottling.
3. Types of wine
Wines can be classified according to a number of criteria.
color:
- Red Wine: Red wine is made by fermenting red grape varieties with their skins and seeds, resulting in a red color and rich in tannins. (Examples: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir)
- White Wine: Made from the fermented juice of white or red grapes with the skin and seeds removed. Characterized by a refreshing and delicate taste. (Examples: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling)
- Rosé Wine: Made by fermenting red grapes with their skins for a short time, or by blending red and white wines. It has a pink color and has characteristics that are somewhere between red and white wines.
Sweetness:
- Dry Wine: Almost no sugar remains during the fermentation process, so there is almost no sweetness.
- Sweet Wine: Sweet wines that are either stopped in the middle of the fermentation process or made with grapes that are high in sugar (e.g., noble wine, ice wine).
- Medium-Dry/Sweet Wine: Has a sweetness level somewhere between that of dry wine and sweet wine.
Carbonation:
- Still Wine: A regular wine that is not carbonated.
- Sparkling Wine: Carbon dioxide produced during the fermentation process dissolves in the wine, creating bubbles (e.g. Champagne, Spumante, Cava)
- Fortified Wine: A wine whose alcohol content has been increased by adding a distilled spirit, such as brandy, during or after fermentation (e.g. port, sherry).
Production areas: Wines with unique characteristics are produced in many countries and regions , including France (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Champagne, etc.), Italy (Tuscany, Piedmont, etc.), Spain (Rioja, Sherry, etc.), Germany (Moselle, Rhine, etc.), the United States (California, Oregon, etc.), Australia, Chile, Argentina, and South Africa.
Grape variety: A major factor in the taste and aroma of wine. It can be made from a single variety or a blend of several varieties. (See examples above.)
4. Wine Tasting
Wine tasting is the process of sensorily evaluating the taste, aroma, and texture of wine.
- Sight: Observe the color, clarity, viscosity, etc. of the wine. Color indicates the type and degree of aging of the wine.
- Smell: Swirl the glass gently to smell the wine. You may smell a variety of aromas, including fruity, floral, spicy, and oaky.
- Taste: Take a sip of the wine and use your entire tongue to taste it. Evaluate sweetness, sourness, bitterness, saltiness, and savory flavors, as well as tannins, texture, and body.
- Finish: Evaluates the aftertaste that remains in the mouth after swallowing the wine. The length of the aftertaste and the aromas felt are important factors in judging the quality of the wine.
5. Wine Pairing
The pairing of wine and food enriches the culinary experience. General principles of pairing are as follows:
- Analogous flavor matching: Matching the flavor intensity or characteristics of a food and wine to something similar (e.g., a light white wine with a delicate fish dish)
- Complementary contrasting flavors: Contrasting the flavors or textures of food and wine to complement each other's shortcomings and highlight each other's strengths (e.g., a refreshing, acidic white wine with a rich food).
- Regional matching: Enjoying the food of a particular region with the wine produced in that region. It often makes for a great match as they have developed together over a long period of time.
6. Wine-related terms
There is a lot of technical jargon in the wine world. Here are some common terms:
- Body: The weight or texture of the wine in the mouth (Light, Medium, Full-bodied).
- Tannin: A bitter substance found in grape skins, seeds, and stems. Mainly found in red wine.
- Acidity: The sourness of wine. It gives the wine freshness and liveliness.
- Aroma: Fruity, floral, etc. scents mainly felt in young wine.
- Bouquet: The complex aromas that develop in a wine as it ages.
- Vintage: The year the grapes were harvested.
- Terroir: Natural environmental factors such as soil, climate, and topography of a specific region where grapes are grown. It has a great influence on the characteristics of wine.
- Sommelier: A person who professionally manages and recommends wine in restaurants, etc.
7. Storing and Enjoying Wine
- Storage: Wine is sensitive to temperature, humidity, light, and vibration. The ideal storage temperature is 10 to 14°C, humidity is around 70%, and it is recommended to store it in a dark and quiet place.
- Serving temperature: Depending on the type of wine, there is an appropriate serving temperature. White wine and rose wine are usually served cold (7-13°C), and red wine is usually served slightly cool (16-18°C).
- Glass: Using an appropriately shaped glass for each type of wine will help you enjoy its aromas and flavors to the fullest.
The more you learn about wine, the more interesting it becomes. I hope this information has helped you understand and enjoy wine. If you have any further questions, please feel free to ask!