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99-559: As a winegrowing centre, Udenheim lies in Germany’s biggest winegrowing district, in the middle of the wine region of Rhenish Hesse . It belongs to the Verbandsgemeinde of Wörrstadt , whose seat is in the like-named municipality . The council is made up of 16 council members, who were elected at the municipal election held on 7 June 2009, and the honorary mayor as chairwoman. The municipal election held on 7 June 2009 yielded

198-600: A fumarium like lesser vintages. Pliny and others also named Vinum Hadrianum as one of the most rated wines, along with Praetutian from Ancona on the Adriatic, Mamertine from Messina in Sicily, Rhaetic from Verona, and a few others. Wine, perhaps mixed with herbs and minerals, was assumed to serve medicinal purposes. During Roman times, the upper classes might dissolve pearls in wine for better health. Cleopatra created her own legend by promising Antony she would "drink

297-671: A Benedictine monk), Burgundy , and Bordeaux in France, and in the Rheingau and Franconia in Germany. In 1435 Count John IV of Katzenelnbogen , a wealthy member of the high nobility of the Holy Roman Empire from near Frankfurt , was the first to plant Riesling , the most important German grape. The nearby winemaking monks made it into an industry, producing enough wine to ship all over Europe for secular use. Portugal ,

396-545: A chief of the second a vine wavy with three bunches of grapes and leafed of two, all of the first. The German blazon does not specify how many bunches of grapes or leaves (if indeed any) there are to be, however. The chief with its grapevine, of course, expresses the importance of winegrowing in Udenheim, which indeed is an important business throughout Rhenish Hesse . The field is charged with elements taken from two noble families’ coats of arms. These former nobles were

495-496: A cluster. Each grape berry contains a pedicel which attaches to the rachis . The main function of the rachis is to allow the grapes to receive their water and nutrients. The pollination and fertilization of grapes results in one to four seeds within each berry. When fertilization does not occur, seedless grapes are formed, which are sought after for the production of raisins . Regardless of pollination and fertilization, most plants will produce around 100 to 200 grapes. The skin of

594-400: A country with one of the oldest wine traditions, developed the first wine appellation system in the world. A housewife of the merchant class or a servant in a noble household would have served wine at every meal, and had a selection of reds and whites alike. Home recipes for meads from this period are still in existence, along with recipes for spicing and masking flavors in wines, including

693-703: A distinct flavor to the drink. The "Feast of the Wine" ( Me-tu-wo Ne-wo ) was a festival in Mycenaean Greece celebrating the "Month of the New Wine". Several ancient sources, such as the Roman Pliny the Elder , describe the ancient Greek method of using partly dehydrated gypsum before fermentation and some type of lime after, in order to reduce the acidity of the wine. The Greek Theophrastus provides

792-427: A few years. A viticulturist faces many hazards that can have an adverse effect on the wine produced from the grape or kill the vine itself. A green harvest is the removal of immature grape bunches, typically for the purpose of decreasing yield. The removal of the bunches while they are still green induces the vine to put all its energy into developing the remaining grapes. In theory this results in better ripening and

891-598: A fresher and more acidic harvest. In general, the average yearly temperature for most crops should average around 15 °C (59 °F) in order to achieve the highest quality in each grape. Summer: Ideal temperatures in summer average around 22 °C (72 °F). Ideal summer temperatures enable fruits to ripen. Temperature and sunshine are the most important factors in ripening. Winter: Ideal temperatures in winter average around 3 °C (37 °F). Ideal winter temperatures are necessary to allow grape vines to enter their resting phase. If temperatures fall too low,

990-409: A god. The Bible makes numerous references to wine, and grapevines, both symbolically and literally. Grapes are first mentioned when Noah grows them on his farm (Genesis 9:20–21). References to wine are made in the book of Proverbs (20:1) and the book of Isaiah (5:1–25). Deuteronomy (18:3–5, 14:22–27, 16:13–15) reports the use of wine during Jewish festivals. In Christianity wine is the symbol of

1089-426: A remedy for snake bites, which shows an early understanding of the effects of alcohol on the central nervous system in such situations. Jofroi of Waterford , a 13th-century Dominican, wrote a catalogue of all the known wines and ales of Europe, describing them with great relish and recommending them to academics and counsellors. Rashi , a medieval French rabbi called the "father" of all subsequent commentaries on

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1188-436: A slope affords better drainage, obviating the possibility that the vine might sit in overly moist soil. In cooler regions of the northern hemisphere, south-facing slopes receive more hours of sunlight and are preferred; in warmer climes , north-facing slopes are preferred. In the southern hemisphere, these orientations are reversed. Quality soil is important to allow plants to have better root systems. The growth and health of

1287-402: A slope can receive a greater intensity of the sun's rays, with sunshine falling on an angle perpendicular to the hillside. In flatter terrain, the intensity of the sunlight is diluted as it spreads out across a wider surface area. Small slopes that are elevated above surrounding ground are the best and safest places for crops, because these small elevations are less prone to frost. Additionally,

1386-497: A uniquely preferred environment for ideal growing. Because climates vary from region to region, selecting the best strain is an important decision in grape cultivation. Additionally, because climatic factors such as temperature and rain can be unpredictable and uncontrollable, each year will produce unique qualities and yields of grapes. Wine grapes are also especially susceptible to climate change and temperature variation. Grape vines need approximately 1300–1500 hours of sunshine during

1485-479: A vine can be affected if the soil quality is poor. Different grape species prefer various soil conditions, although there are general quality factors. Favorable soil conditions include: aeration , loose texture, good drainage and moderate fertility. Drainage factors are cited as the most important soil characteristic to affect grape vine growth. When root growth is restricted due to bad soil, vine growth and fruit yields lessen and plant survival rates can dip to only

1584-1091: Is a wine term in German equivalent to a field blend, which means that grapes of different varieties are planted, harvested and vinified together. In older times, this was common, but the practice has almost stopped. It is, however, a specialty of Vienna . Other traditional field blends include Alsace wine , notably edelzwicker and gentil blends, and Douro wine. 39. Goldammer, T. (2015). Grape Growers Handbook: A Guide To Viticulture for Wine Production . ISBN   978-0-9675212-7-5 History of wine The oldest evidence of ancient wine production has been found in Georgia from c.  6000 BC (the earliest known traces of grape wine), Iran from c.  5000 BC, Greece from c.  4500 BC, Armenia from c.  4100 BC (large-scale production), and Sicily from c.  4000 BC. The earliest evidence of fermented alcoholic beverage of rice, honey and fruit, sometimes compared to wine,

1683-491: Is also produced. Mexico became the most important wine producer starting in the 16th century, to the extent that its output began to affect Spanish commercial production. In this competitive climate, the Spanish king sent an executive order to halt Mexico's production of wines and the planting of vineyards. During the devastating phylloxera blight in late 19th-century Europe, it was found that Native American vines were immune to

1782-597: Is claimed in China ( c.  7000 BC). The altered consciousness produced by wine has been considered religious since its origin. The ancient Greeks worshiped Dionysus or Bacchus and the Ancient Romans carried on his cult. Consumption of ritual wine , probably a certain type of sweet wine originally, was part of Jewish practice since Biblical times and, as part of the eucharist commemorating Jesus 's Last Supper , became even more essential to

1881-536: Is closely related to the history of wine , with evidence that humans cultivated wild grapes to make wine as far back as the Neolithic period. Evidence suggests that some of the earliest domestication of Vitis vinifera occurred in the area of the modern countries Georgia and Armenia . The oldest-known winery was discovered in the "Areni-1" cave in Vayots Dzor , Armenia . Dated to c.  4100 BC,

1980-414: Is notable for the recovery at the site of the remnants of crushed grapes. The oldest-known winery was discovered in the "Areni-1" cave in Vayots Dzor , Armenia . Dated to c.  4100 BC, the site contained a wine press, fermentation vats, jars, and cups. Archaeologists also found V. vinifera seeds and vines. Commenting on the importance of the find, McGovern said, "The fact that winemaking

2079-403: Is provided by cuneiform sources (ancient writing on clay tablets), plant remains, historical geography, and archaeological excavations. The remnants of ancient wine jars have been used to determine the culture of wine consumption and cultivated grape species. In addition to winemaking, grapes have been grown for the production of raisins . The earliest act of cultivation appears to have been

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2178-622: The Bronze Age , winemaking in the Levant retained its importance as a significant regional industry until the decline of Byzantine rule in the 7th century CE. This prolonged history of winemaking significantly enriched the cultural and economic tapestry of ancient societies in the region, giving rise to numerous legends and beliefs intertwined with its consumption in the Mediterranean and Near East. The ancient Phoenicians stood among

2277-751: The Catholic Mass , assuring a supply was crucial. The Benedictine monks became one of the largest producers of wine in France and Germany, followed closely by the Cistercians . Other orders, such as the Carthusians , the Templars , and the Carmelites , are also notable both historically and in modern times as wine producers. The Benedictines owned vineyards in Champagne ( Dom Perignon was

2376-549: The Côte-d'Or , the monks divided the land into separate vineyards, many of which still exist today, like Montrachet and La Romanée . In Greek mythology , the demigod Dionysus ( Bacchus in Roman mythology ), son of Zeus , invented the grapevine and the winepress. When his closest satyr friend died trying to bring him a vine Dionysus deemed important, Dionysus forced the vine to bear fruit. His fame spread, and he finally became

2475-625: The Gauls ) and glass bottles (invented by the Syrians ) began to compete with terracotta amphoras for storing and shipping wine. The Romans also created a precursor to today's appellation systems, as certain regions gained reputations for their fine wines. The most famous was the white Falernian from the Latian – Campanian border, principally because of its high (~15%) alcohol content. The Romans recognized three appellations: Caucinian Falernian from

2574-667: The Hebrew language , a multitude of terms emerged relating to vines and the various stages of winemaking. Winemaking also included the incorporation of spices, honey, herbs, and other ingredients. Following the fermentation process, the wine was meticulously stored in amphorae, often lined with protective resin coatings to ensure preservation. Jewish winemaking evolved during the Hellenistic period , with dried grapes producing sweeter, higher alcohol content wine that required dilution with water for consumption. During Late Antiquity , when

2673-523: The Last Supper , representing the blood of Christ . It is mentioned several times in the New Testament . We have the parable of the kingdom of heaven likened to the father starting to engage laborers for his vineyard. The vine is used as symbol of Jesus Christ based on his own statement, "I am the true vine (John 15:1)." In that sense, a vine is placed as sole symbol on the tomb of Constantine

2772-558: The Levant and Iraq often cultivated grapevines; they then distributed their vintages in taverns located on monastery grounds. Zoroastrians in Persia and Central Asia also engaged in the production of wine. Though not much is known about their wine trade, they did become known for their taverns. Wine in general found an industrial use in the medieval Middle East as feedstock after advances in distillation by Muslim alchemists allowed for

2871-604: The Levant was under Byzantine control , the region established itself as a renowned center for winemaking. Ashkelon and Gaza , two ancient port cities in modern-day Israel and Gaza Strip , rose to prominence as important trade centers, facilitating extensive wine exports throughout the Byzantine Empire . The writings of 4th-century CE priest Jerome vividly depicted the Holy Land 's landscape adorned with sprawling vineyards. The wines of this region, as described by

2970-721: The Mediterranean began to emerge from barbarism when they learnt to cultivate the olive and the vine. Thucydides was most likely referencing the time between 3000 BC and 2000 BC, when viticulture emerged in force in Asia Minor , Greece , and the Cyclades Islands of the Aegean Sea . During this period, grape cultivation developed from an aspect of local consumption to an important component of international economies and trade . From 1200 BC to 900 BC,

3069-524: The Middle Ages . Around this time, an early system of Metayage emerged in France with laborers ( Prendeur ) working the vineyards under contractual agreements with the landowners ( Bailleur ). In most cases, the prendeurs were given flexibility in selecting their crop and developing their own vineyard practice. In northern Europe, the weather and climate posed difficulties for grape cultivation, so certain species were selected that better suited

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3168-534: The Mission grape and is still planted today in small amounts. Spanish missionaries also took viticulture to Chile and Argentina in the mid-16th century and to Baja California in the 18th. Succeeding waves of immigrants, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, imported French, Italian and German V. vinifera grapes, although wine from those native to the Americas (whose flavors can be distinctly different)

3267-557: The Persian shores of the Caspian Sea , the vine has demonstrated high levels of adaptability to new environments, hence viticulture can be found on every continent except Antarctica . The duties of a viticulturist include monitoring and controlling pests and diseases , fertilizing , irrigation , canopy management , monitoring fruit development and characteristics , deciding when to harvest , and vine pruning during

3366-710: The Phoenicians developed viticulture practices that were later used in Carthage . Around 500 BC, the Carthaginian writer Mago recorded such practices in a two-volume work that was one of the few artifacts to survive the Roman destruction of Carthage during the Third Punic War . The Roman statesman Cato the Elder was influenced by these texts, and around 160 BC he wrote De Agricultura , which expounded on Roman viticulture and agriculture. Around 65 AD,

3465-630: The Western Regions (modern Xinjiang ) reached the Hellenistic successor states of Alexander 's empire : Dayuan , Bactria , and the Indo-Greek Kingdom . These had brought viticulture into Central Asia and trade permitted the first wine produced from V. vinifera grapes to be introduced to China. Wine was imported again when trade with the west was restored under the Tang dynasty , but it remained mostly imperial fare and it

3564-600: The ancient Thracians ' love for winemaking and consumption, as early as 6000 years ago. the Thracians are considered the first to worship the god of wine called Dionysus in Greek or Zagreus in Thracian. Later this cult reached Ancient Greece. Some consider Thrace (modern day Bulgaria ) as the motherland of wine culture. The Roman Empire had an immense impact on the development of viticulture and oenology . Wine

3663-427: The growing season and around 690 millimetres (27 in) of rainfall throughout the year in order to produce grapes suitable for winemaking. In ideal circumstances, the vine will receive most of the rainfall during the winter and spring months: rain at harvesttime can create many hazards, such as fungal diseases and berry splitting. The optimum weather during the growing season is a long, warm summer that allows

3762-602: The pharaohs did not drink wine nor offer it to the gods "thinking it to be the blood of those who had once battled against the gods and from whom, when they had fallen and had become commingled with the earth, they believed vines to have sprung". This was considered to be the reason why drunkenness "drives men out of their senses and crazes them, inasmuch as they are then filled with the blood of their forebears". Residue from five clay amphoras in Tutankhamun 's tomb, however, have been shown to be that of white wine , so it

3861-509: The 1st millennium BC. Production of beer had largely disappeared by the time of the Han dynasty , in favor of stronger drinks fermented from millet , rice , and other grains. Although these huangjiu have frequently been translated as "wine", they are typically 20% ABV and considered quite distinct from grape wine ( 葡萄酒 ) within China. During the 2nd century BC, Zhang Qian 's exploration of

3960-466: The 6th-century CE poet Corippus , stood out for their attributes of being white, light, and sweet. In the Arabian Peninsula , wine was traded by Aramaic merchants, as the climate was not well-suited to the growing of vines. Many other types of fermented drinks, however, were produced in the 5th and 6th centuries, including date and honey wines . Much of modern wine culture derives from

4059-623: The Christian Church . Although Islam nominally forbade the production or consumption of wine, during its Golden Age , alchemists such as Geber pioneered wine's distillation for medicinal and industrial purposes such as the production of perfume. Wine production and consumption increased, burgeoning from the 15th century onwards as part of European expansion . Despite the devastating 1887 phylloxera louse infestation, modern science and technology adapted and industrial wine production and widespread consumption now occur throughout

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4158-544: The Delta, constituted a canonical set of provisions for the afterlife. Wine in ancient Egypt was predominantly red . Due to its resemblance to blood, much superstition surrounded wine-drinking in Egyptian culture. Shedeh , the most precious drink in ancient Egypt, is now known to have been a red wine and not fermented from pomegranates as previously thought. Plutarch 's Moralia relates that, prior to Psammetichus I ,

4257-527: The Great . The vast majority of the world's wine-producing regions are found between the temperate latitudes of 30° and 50° in each hemisphere . Within these bands, the annual mean temperatures are between 10 and 20 °C (50 and 68 °F). The presence of large bodies of water and mountain ranges can have positive effects on the climate and vines. Nearby lakes and rivers can serve as protection for drastic temperature drops at night by releasing

4356-476: The Lords of Udenheim (the bend, that is, diagonal stripe, in this case charged with chevrons), whose kinsman Peter von Udenheim was enfeoffed with the village by Count Heinrich II von Sponheim in 1380, and the family Köth von Wannscheid, who lived in the area, and whose kinsman Johann Friedrich von Köth was buried in the Udenheim church in 1590. In 1956, a different, but nonetheless rather similar-looking coat of arms

4455-680: The Persian Empire bringing gifts to the Persian king. Domesticated grapes were abundant in the Near East from the beginning of the early Bronze Age , starting in 3200 BC. There is also increasingly abundant evidence for winemaking in Sumer and Egypt in the 3rd millennium BC. There are many etiological myths told about the first cultivation of the grapevine and fermentation of wine. The Biblical Book of Genesis first mentions

4554-472: The Roman writer Columella produced the most detailed work on Roman viticulture in his twelve-volume text De Re Rustica . Columella's work is one of the earliest to detail trellis systems for raising vines off the ground. Columella advocated the use of stakes versus the previously accepted practice of training vines to grow up along tree trunks. The benefits of using stakes over trees was largely to minimize

4653-764: The Talmud and the Tanakh, earned his living as a vintner . Medieval names for types of wine included "pimentum" and " malmsey ". Following the voyages of Columbus, grape culture and wine making were transported from the Old World to the New. European grape varieties were first brought to what is now Mexico by the first Spanish conquistadors to provide the necessities of the Catholic Holy Eucharist . Planted at Spanish missions , one variety came to be known as

4752-399: The [Christian medieval] blood libel —accusations against Jews using the blood of murdered gentile children for the making of wine and matzot—became the false pretext for numerous pogroms . And due to the danger, those who live in a place where blood libels occur are halachically exempted from using [kosher] red wine , lest it be seized as "evidence" against them. In the Middle Ages , wine

4851-509: The area. The Greeks may have even been involved in the first appearance of wine in ancient Egypt. They introduced the V. vinifera vine to and made wine in their numerous colonies in modern-day Italy, Sicily , southern France, and Spain. Herodotus , writing about the culture of the ancient Persians (in particular, those of Pontus ) writes that they were "very fond" of wine and drank it in large quantities. The works of Homer , Herodotus and other historians of Ancient Greece refer to

4950-510: The color blue despite modern claims, the Greeks would simply refer to red wine's color as the sea appeared darker than their perspective of a 'blue' shade. The earliest reference to a named wine is from the 7th-century BC lyrical poet Alcman , who praises Dénthis , a wine from the western foothills of Mount Taygetus in Messenia , as anthosmías ("flowery-scented"). Chian was credited as

5049-458: The concept of thinning or sacrificing part of the grape crop, i.e. green harvesting, with the aim of improving the quality of the remaining grapes, predates modern critics, the practice has increased in recent times in vineyards found in California and areas where the grapes grow easily. (McCoy) A field blend is a wine that is produced from two or more different grape varieties interplanted in

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5148-469: The crops can be injured. Spring and Fall: Spring and fall are critical seasons for grape development, because the plants are susceptible to frost damage, which can injure the fruiting buds. Wet weather in spring can increase the odds of mildew formation. To prevent mildew, some farms introduce devices such as heaters or large fans in vineyards. However, such solutions can be costly. Hillsides and slopes are preferred over flatter terrain: vines growing on

5247-623: The dangers associated with climbing trees, which was necessary to prune the dense foliage in order to give the vines sunlight, and later to harvest them. Roman expansion across Western Europe brought Roman viticulture to the areas that would become some of the world's best-known winegrowing regions : the Spanish Rioja , the German Mosel , and the French Bordeaux , Burgundy and Rhône . Roman viticulturists were among

5346-448: The development of more numerous and mature flavour compounds. In the absence of a green harvest, a healthy, vigorous vine can produce dilute, unripe grapes. In Europe, many appellations restrict the yield permitted from a given area, so there is even more incentive to perform green harvesting when presented with excess crop. Often, the excess must be sold for a pittance and used for industrial alcohol production rather than wine. While

5445-495: The earliest evidence of a grape and rice mixed based fermented drink was found in ancient China ( c.  7000 BC),. The Iranian jars contained a form of retsina , using turpentine pine resin to more effectively seal and preserve the wine and is the earliest firm evidence of wine production to date. Production spread to other sites in Greater Iran and Greek Macedonia by c.  4500 BC. The Greek site

5544-478: The early civilizations to acknowledge the significance of cultivating and trading wine. Positioned along the eastern Mediterranean coast, the Phoenicians leveraged their location for far-reaching trade networks across the ancient world. The Israelite prophet Hosea (780–725 BC) is said to have urged his followers to return to Yahweh so that "they will blossom as the vine, [and] their fragrance will be like

5643-515: The enduring importance of wine within Judaism to this very day. The abundancy of archeological remnants of facilities dedicated to the production of wine (at ancient Gibeon , for example), coupled with detailed depictions of vineyard establishment and grape varieties within the Hebrew Bible , underscore the prominence of wine as the primary alcoholic choice for the ancient Israelites. Within

5742-596: The environment. Most vineyards grew white varieties of grape, which are more resistant to the damp and cold climates. A few species of red grape, such as the Pinot Noir , were also introduced. Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry dates back to 1416 and depicts horticulture and viticulture in France. The images illustrate peasants bending down to prune grapes from vines behind castle walls. Additional illustrations depict grape vines being harvested, with each vine being cut to three spurs around knee height. Many of

5841-517: The favoring of hermaphroditic members of the Vitis vinifera species over the barren male vines and the female vines, which were dependent on a nearby male for pollination . With the ability to pollinate itself, over time the hermaphroditic vines were able to sire offspring that were consistently hermaphroditic. At the end of the 5th century BC, the Greek historian Thucydides wrote: The people of

5940-655: The field blend is an anachronism, and almost all wines are assembled by blending from smaller, individual lots. However, in California some of the oldest (and lowest-yielding) Zinfandel comes from vineyards that are field-blended. Ridge Vineyards owns the Lytton Springs vineyards in Sonoma County, which were planted from 1900 to 1905 in what Ridge calls "a traditional field blend of about seventy percent Zinfandel, twenty percent Petite Sirah , and ten percent Grenache and Carignan." Gemischter Satz ( Mixed set )

6039-476: The first red wine , although it was known to the Greeks as "black wine". Coan was mixed with sea water and famously salty; Pramnian or Lesbian wine was a famous export as well. Aristotle mentions Lemnian wine, which was probably the same as the modern-day Lemnió varietal, a red wine with a bouquet of oregano and thyme . If so, this makes Lemnió the oldest known varietal still in cultivation. For Greece, alcohol such as wine had not fully developed into

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6138-541: The first century AD. Viniculture expanded so much that by AD c.  92 the emperor Domitian was forced to pass the first wine laws on record, banning the planting of any new vineyards in Italy and uprooting half of the vineyards in the provinces in order to increase the production of the necessary but less profitable grain. (The measure was widely ignored but remained on the books until its 280 repeal by Probus . ) Winemaking technology improved considerably during

6237-400: The first to identify steep hillsides as one of the better locations to plant vines, because cool air runs downhill and gathers at the bottom of valleys. While some cool air is beneficial, too much can rob the vine of the heat it needs for photosynthesis , and in winter it increases the risk of frost . Catholic monks (particularly the Cistercians ) were the most prominent viticulturists of

6336-473: The following results: The German blazon reads: In blau ein goldener, von zwei roten Sparren belegter Schräg-rechts-Balken, beseitet von je einem silbernen rechtsgewendeten Adler. Darüber in einem goldenen Schildhaupt ein blaues Rebengewinde . The municipality’s arms might in English heraldic language be described thus: Azure a bend Or charged with two chevrons gules between two eagles displayed argent, in

6435-447: The grape accounts for 5 to 20% of the total weight of a grape depending on the variety. When grape skin ripens, it contains the majority of the aromatic substances and tannin . These factors become important in winemaking for methods including color extraction or aroma dissolution. Although the skin contains the majority of the tannin, small percentages can be found throughout the grape and during all of its developmental stages. However,

6534-428: The grapes the opportunity to ripen fully and to develop a balance between the levels of acids and sugars in the grape. Hot and sunny climates have a frost-free growing season of 200 days or more. These climates allow grapes to ripen faster with higher sugar levels and lower acidity. Cooler climates have a frost-free growing season of around 150–160 days. Cooler seasons force the grapes to ripen earlier, which produces

6633-469: The heat that the water has stored during the day to warm the vines. Structure of the grape vine There are many different important parts of the grape vine. Starting from the bottom and moving up there are the Fender roots, then above that are the roots . These help with anchorage, absorption and food storage. Then there is the trunk which branches out into arms. These help support conduction. Higher up are

6732-627: The highest slopes, Faustian Falernian from the center (named for its one-time owner Faustus Cornelius Sulla , son of the dictator ), and generic Falernian from the lower slopes and plain. The esteemed vintages grew in value as they aged, and each region produced different varieties as well: dry, sweet, and light. Other famous wines were the sweet Alban from the Alban Hills and the Caecuban beloved by Horace and extirpated by Nero . Pliny cautioned that such 'first-growth' wines not be smoked in

6831-549: The king's warehouse, the woman sought out a jar marked "poison" containing the remnants of the grapes that had spoiled and were now deemed undrinkable. After drinking the fermented wine, she found her spirits lifted. She took her discovery to the king, who became so enamored of his new drink that he not only accepted the woman back but also decreed that all grapes grown in Persepolis would be devoted to winemaking. Archaeologists have discovered production from native "mountain grapes" like V. thunbergii and V. filifolia during

6930-545: The node, inter node, leaves, cluster (of grapes) and the tendril . The tendril helps with support of the plant. The grape is classified as a berry . On the vine, grapes are organized through systems known as clusters. Grape clusters can vary in compactness which can result in long clusters (resulting in the grapes spreading out) or short clusters (resulting in grapes packed together). In some grape species, clusters ripen collectively, which allows them to be harvested together. For others, grapes may ripen individually within

7029-474: The oldest known description of this aspect of Greek winemaking. In Homeric mythology, wine is usually served in " mixing bowls " rather than consumed in an undiluted state. Dionysus , the Greek god of revelry and wine—frequently referred to in the works of Homer and Aesop —was sometimes given the epithet Acratophorus , "giver of unmixed wine". Homer frequently refers to the "wine-dark sea" ( οἶνωψ πόντος , oīnōps póntos ): while having several words for

7128-798: The only stable social structure. Through the Church, grape growing and winemaking technology, essential for the Mass, were preserved. Over the course of the later Empire, wine production gradually shifted to the east as Roman infrastructure and influence in the western regions gradually diminished. Production in Asia Minor, the Aegean and the Near East flourished through Late Antiquity and the Byzantine era. The oldest surviving urn of wine in liquid state

7227-492: The practices of the ancient Greeks . The vine preceded both the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures. Many of the grapes grown in modern Greece are grown there exclusively and are similar or identical to the varieties grown in ancient times. Indeed, the most popular modern Greek wine, a strongly aromatic white called retsina , is thought to be a carryover from the ancient practice of lining the wine jugs with tree resin, imparting

7326-614: The production of alcohol, wine in particular, seems to have thrived. Wine was a subject for many poets, even under Islamic rule, and many khalifas used to drink alcoholic beverages during their social and private meetings. Jews in Egypt leased vineyards from the Fatimid and Mamluk governments, produced wine for sacramental and medicinal use, and traded wine throughout the Eastern Mediterranean . Christian monasteries in

7425-457: The production of relatively pure ethanol , which was used in the perfume industry. Wine was also for the first time distilled into brandy during this period. In the Levant, the Muslim conquest of the Levant suppressed winemaking after centuries of regional prominence, and the 13th-century Mamluk conquest resulted in its complete prohibition. It has been one of history's cruel ironies that

7524-490: The production of wine by Noah following the Great Flood . Greek mythology placed the childhood of Dionysus and his discovery of viticulture at Mount Nysa but had him teach the practice to the peoples of central Anatolia . Because of this, he was rewarded to become a god of wine. In Persian legend, King Jamshid banished a lady of his harem , causing her to become despondent and contemplate suicide. Going to

7623-465: The rich 'cash crop' that it would eventually become toward the peak of its reign. However, as the emphasis of viticulture increased with economic demand so did the consumption of alcohol during the years to come. The Greeks embraced the production aspect as a way to expand and create economic growth throughout the region. Greek wine was widely known and exported throughout the Mediterranean , as amphoras with Greek styling and art have been found throughout

7722-540: The rich landowners who wanted higher quality wines and the peasant laborers whose livelihood depended on the quantity of wine they could sell. The Riesling is the famous example for higher quality of wine. In 1435 Count John IV. of Katzenelnbogen started this successful tradition. In Burgundy , the Cistercian monks developed the concept of cru vineyards as homogeneous pieces of land that consistently produce wines each vintage that are similar. In areas like

7821-516: The same vineyard. In the days before precise varietal identification, let alone rigorous clonal selection , a vineyard might be planted by taking cuttings from another vineyard and therefore approximately copying its genetic makeup. This meant that one vine could be Zinfandel and the next Carignan . When making wine with little equipment to spare for separate vinification of different varieties, field blends allowed effortless, though inflexible, blending. Fermentation tanks are now cheap enough that

7920-425: The simple act of adding a small amount of honey . As wines were kept in barrels, they were not extensively aged, and thus drunk quite young. To offset the effects of heavy alcohol-consumption, wine was frequently watered down at a ratio of four or five parts water to one of wine. One medieval application of wine was the use of snake-stones (banded agate resembling the figural rings on a snake ) dissolved in wine as

8019-470: The site contained a wine press, fermentation vats, jars, and cups. Archaeologists also found V. vinifera seeds and vines. Commenting on the importance of the find, McGovern said, "The fact that winemaking was already so well developed in 4000 BC suggests that the technology probably goes back much earlier." There is also evidence of grape domestication in the Near East in the early Bronze Age , around 3200 BC. Evidence of ancient viticulture

8118-427: The tannin's most important role is during the grape's ripening stage as its function is to formulate color and body shape. Although many factors can affect the overall quality of a grape vine, the three most important are climate, slope , and soil , often collectively referred to as the terroir . Climate is the most significant external factor in determining a grape's inherent qualities. Each grape variety has

8217-515: The time of the Roman Empire, though technologies from the Bronze Age continued to be used alongside newer innovations. Vitruvius noted how wine storage rooms were specially built facing north, "since that quarter is never subject to change but is always constant and unshifting", and special smokehouses ( fumaria ) were developed to speed or mimic aging . Many grape varieties and cultivation techniques were developed. Barrels (invented by

8316-880: The transition from a nomadic to a sedentary style of living, which led to agriculture and wine domestication. The fermenting of strains of Vitis vinifera subsp. sylvestris (the ancestor of the modern wine grape, V. vinifera ) would have become easier following the development of pottery during the later Neolithic period, c.  11,000 BC. The earliest discovered evidence, however, dates from several millennia later. The earliest archaeological evidence of wine fermentation found has been at sites in Georgia ( c.  6000 BC), Hajj Firuz , West Azerbaijan province of Iran ( c.  5000 BC), Greece ( c.  4500 BC), and Sicily ( c.  4000 BC). The earliest evidence of steady production of wine has been found in Armenia ( c.  4100 BC) while

8415-546: The value of a province" in one cup of wine, after which she drank an expensive pearl with a cup of the beverage. Pliny relates that, after the ascension of Augustus , Setinum became the imperial wine because it did not cause him indigestion. When the Western Roman Empire fell during the 5th century, Europe entered a period of invasions and social turmoil, with the Roman Catholic Church as

8514-497: The viticultural practices developed in this time period would become staples of European viticulture until the 18th century. Varietals were studied more intently to see which vines were the most suitable for a particular area. Around this time, an early concept of terroir emerged as wines from particular places began to develop a reputation for uniqueness. The concept of pruning for quality over quantity emerged, mainly through Cistercian labors, though it would create conflict between

8613-411: The wine of Lebanon ". The Phoenician use of amphoras for transporting wine was widely adopted and Phoenician-distributed grape varieties were important in the development of the wine industries of Rome and Greece. The Phoenicians also established colonies along the Mediterranean coasts, from modern-day Tunisia to Spain, where they introduced viticulture practices and grape cultivation. One such colony

8712-498: The winter months. Viticulturists are often intimately involved with winemakers, because vineyard management and the resulting grape characteristics provide the basis from which winemaking can begin. A great number of varieties are now approved in the European Union as true grapes for winegrowing and viticulture. The earliest evidence of grape vine cultivation and winemaking dates back 8,000 years. The history of viticulture

8811-493: The world. The origins of wine predate written records , and modern archaeology is still uncertain about the details of the first cultivation of wild grapevines . It has been hypothesized that early humans climbed trees to pick berries, liked their sugary flavor, and then began collecting them. After a few days with fermentation setting in, juice at the bottom of any container would begin producing low-alcohol wine. According to this theory, things changed around 10,000–8000 BC with

8910-723: Was Carthage , a city that later developed into a maritime empire. The only Carthaginian recipe to survive the Punic Wars was one by Mago for passum , a raisin wine that later became popular in Rome as well. Wine held a significant and favored role within ancient Israelite cuisine , serving not only as a dietary staple but also as a crucial element of Israelite cultural and religious practices. In ancient Israel , wine found its place in both everyday use and ceremonial rituals such as sacrificial libations. These traditions became an integral part of Jewish customs and celebrations, upholding

9009-626: Was already so well developed in 4000 BC suggests that the technology probably goes back much earlier." The seeds were from Vitis vinifera , a grape still used to make wine. The cave remains date to about 4000 BC. This is 900 years before the earliest comparable wine remains, found in Egyptian tombs. The fame of Persian wine has been well known in ancient times. The carvings on the Audience Hall, known as Apadana Palace , in Persepolis , demonstrate soldiers of subjected nations by

9108-561: Was an integral part of the Roman diet and winemaking became a precise business. Virtually all of the major wine-producing regions of Western Europe today were established during the Roman Imperial era. During the Roman Empire, social norms began to shift as the production of alcohol increased. Further evidence suggests that widespread drunkenness and true alcoholism among the Romans began in the first century BC and reached its height in

9207-474: Was at least available to the Egyptians through trade if not produced domestically. In ancient times, the Levant region has played a vital role in the domain of winemaking. Archaeological findings, including charred grape seeds and occasionally intact berries or raisins, have been unearthed in numerous prehistoric and historic sites across Southwest Asia . Having deep historical roots dating back to at least

9306-545: Was found in 2019 in a Roman mausoleum in Carmona, southern Spain, and is about 2000 years old. The second oldest surviving bottle still containing liquid wine is the Speyer wine bottle , that belonged to a Roman nobleman and it is dated at 325 or 350 AD. The advent of Islam and subsequent Muslim conquests in the 7th and 8th centuries brought many territories under Muslim control. Alcoholic drinks were prohibited by law, but

9405-446: Was itself never built. The tower also long served as an alarm for the fire brigade. Winegrowing Viticulture ( Latin : vitis cultura , " vine -growing"), viniculture ( vinis cultura , " wine -growing"), or winegrowing is the cultivation and harvesting of grapes . It is a branch of the science of horticulture . While the native territory of Vitis vinifera , the common grape vine, ranges from Western Europe to

9504-545: Was most likely the result of trade between Egypt and Canaan during the early Bronze Age , commencing from at least the 27th-century BC Third Dynasty , the beginning of the Old Kingdom period. Winemaking scenes on tomb walls, and the offering lists that accompanied them, included wine that was definitely produced in the delta vineyards. By the end of the Old Kingdom, five distinct wines, probably all produced in

9603-612: Was not until the Song that its consumption spread among the gentry . Marco Polo 's 14th-century account noted the continuing preference for rice wines continuing in Yuan China . Wine played an important role in ancient Egyptian ceremonial life. A thriving royal winemaking industry was established in the Nile Delta following the introduction of grape cultivation from the Levant to Egypt c.  3000  BC. The industry

9702-415: Was proposed for Udenheim. It had no chief (the band at the top of the escutcheon ), but otherwise the charges and tinctures were the same as in the arms eventually adopted, with one small exception: There was only one eagle; there was none in base, and the bend simply had an empty blue field underneath. Since 1874, a belltower has stood in the middle of the village that was built for a foreseen church that

9801-415: Was the common drink of all social classes in the south of Europe, where grapes were cultivated. In the north and east, where few if any grapes were grown, beer and ale were the usual beverages of both commoners and nobility. Wine was exported to the northern regions, but because of its relatively high expense was seldom consumed by the lower classes. Since wine was necessary, however, for the celebration of

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