What is the History of Wine and Beer?
History of Wine and Beer
Beer and wine are both alcoholic beverages made from grapes. The history of these drinks goes back millennia. It is believed that the first wine recipe was developed in China around 9,000 years ago. The tradition of winemaking spread from China to other parts of the world. Today, oenophiles can make their own wine at home with easy-to-use wine-making kits.
The Romans influenced the history of winemaking in several ways. They classified the varieties of grapes and invented the wine barrel, a wooden vessel used to age wine. This allows the wine to evaporate and imparts distinctive flavours to the drink. The history of winemaking goes even further back to the ancient Greeks.
Wine making is believed to have begun around 9,000 years ago, when farmers domesticated the distant ancestors of modern wine grapes. Archeological finds show that humans were growing grapes in the Middle East as early as 3,200 BC. Evidence suggests that winemaking was practiced as early as Sumer and Egypt.
What is the History of Wine and Beer?
Although many people believe that wine and beer come from the old world, they actually have roots in Europe. The founding fathers of the United States were Catholics, and so they did not welcome wine. But the European grapes introduced to California’s temperate climate were important factors in the birth of the wine industry. Winemaking involves fermentation with yeast, and until the 20th century, natural yeasts were used. The problem with this method was that they were prone to spoilage.
In ancient times, various cultures began fermenting fruit and grains to produce alcohol. Asia produced mead during the Vedic period. Later, the Greeks, Celts, and Saxons produced honey wine. The Romans, on the other hand, produced malted barley and grapes. Ancient peoples also made chicha, which was made from maize and used honey as its main ingredient.
Wine was originally reserved for special occasions. The first champagne was made more than thirty years before the birth of Dom Perignon. It was sent to other monarchs as a show of respect. It was also given to people in need and the rich. Eventually, the poor people got their fair share.