Wine
A brief history of wine
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Wine is by no stretch of the word new. It has been intertwined within culture since its first recorded appearance in Iran in 6000BC. Signs of grapevine domestication were found around 3000BC. In Egypt wine became a part of ancient ceremonial life and was recorded in history. Vast advancements in wine production were made during the Roman Empire era such as the wine press and using wine barrels to store and ship wine. After the decline of Rome the Christian Church became a staunch supporter of wine for Catholic Mass. Wine demand and production increased exponentially after this point. After the late 1800’s when wine production was booming specific growing regions were selected to grow the best grapes and make the best wine.Types of Wine
Red Wines:
Merlot:
It is pronounced mare-lo which means easy to drink. A beginners wine with a “soft” taste. There is no specific food parings with merlot but with most red wines meat and cheese are good parings. Merlot has scents of blackcherry, plums, and herbal flavours. It is grown in Italy and California among others.
Syrah or Shiraz:
In Europe they only call it Syrah. Syrah is usually paired with meats like beef, steak, wild game, and stews. It is grown in California, Australia and France’s Rhone Valley. It has flavours of wild black fruit with overtones of black pepper and roasting meat. Some Shiraz have slight toffee notes though that is not from fruit it is from the cask it is aged in.
White Wines
Chardonnay:
It is the most popular white wine and can be made sparkling or still. It is generally paired with fish or chicken dishes. It is very good with lobster and mussels. It is grown in Burgundy, France where it originated, but is grown in acceptable climates worldwide. It has flavours of citrus with sometimes a buttery tone (vanilla, coconut).
Moscato:
It belongs to the Muscat family of grapes. It is generally not paired with many foods though since it is a sweet wine it pairs well with deserts. It is grown in Europe and is big in Rhone Valley, France. It has a very sweet and fruity taste with a musky aroma. Moscato’s are very easily recognised by any who has tried a Muscat table grape.
http://www.winepros.org/wine101/history.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wine