“Accept what life offers you and try to drink from every cup. All wines should be tasted; some should only be sipped, but with others, drink the whole bottle.”
Origin of Wine: Historical Overview
Nobody is certain, but according to an old Persian story, a lady is credited with discovering wine. She was a princess who had fallen out of favour with the King, according to the legend. She tried to terminate her life by eating some rotting table grapes from their jar since the embarrassment was so great.
Since ancient times, people have enjoyed drinking wine. Our natural preference for this beverage is a result of its delicious flavour, nutritive qualities, and last but not least, its psychoactive (intoxicating) effects.
Research revealed that the ancient Chinese fermented their grapes with rice to improve the flavour. Similar to now, wine was produced by ancient Egyptians other than from grapes.
The oldest traces of wine were found at the Iranian archaeological site of Hajji Firuz Tepe in the northern Zagros Mountains. The wine originated in the Neolithic era (8500-4000 B.C.). The wine’s age was determined by carbon dating to be between 5400 and 5000 B.C.
In Greek mythology, Dionysus, the son of Zeus and Semele, created wine while residing among nymphs on the ancient Mount Nysa. Dionysus is frequently referred to as the “God of Wine” because to this, among other things.
The invention of wine in the globe dates back to 6,000 BC, and Georgia is often referred to as the “cradle of wine” because of this discovery.
Wine in India
The writings of Chanakya, the chief minister of the emperor Chandragupta Maurya, from the latter half of the 4th century BCE contain the earliest recorded mention of grape-based wines in India. Chanakya forbade drinking in his works despite documenting the monarch and his court’s frequent consumption of the madhu wine variety.
India’s history with grape cultivation and wine production dates back to the Bronze Age, when Persian traders introduced the culture to the country. Soon, fermented grain drinks and wine derived from grapes were widely available throughout the region.
India has a long tradition of producing and drinking great wine, which helps to explain why the country now offers a large selection of it. If you have any questions about the development of wine in India, scroll down.
Before the Portuguese introduced Port in Goa in the 1500s, there is little trace of winemaking in India. In the late 18th century, the French attempted to establish the “Angoori Bagh” in Hyderabad but were unsuccessful because to the British whisky.
Drakshasava, an ayurvedic compound, has been cited as a medication. However, the earliest wine consumption in India was documented during the Indo-Greek era, which began around 180 BC. The Persia-Afghanistan corridor was the source of Indian grape imports. Later, wine was likely imported and was mostly enjoyed by royalty.
What are the 7 types of wine?
Red Wine
The classification of red wines is one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing wine. Red wines come in a variety of varieties, each having a unique flavour and personality. Red wine is made from black grapes, and the fermentation process with the grape skins gives it a colour that can range from light crimson to deep oxblood. Additionally, tannins are transferred, which are what gives powerful red wines their dry, astringent flavour.
White Wine
Contrarily, black and white grapes can both be used to make white wine, which is perplexing. White wine has a light colour and little tannin since it is fermented without the skins. It could be crisp or buttery, depending on the wine.
White wine is produced from grapes whose skins were not exposed to the fermentation process. It could be golden yellow, green, or straw yellow in hue. It is produced by alcoholic fermentation of the skinless, colourless pulp of grapes. There have been white wines for nearly 4,000 years.
Rose Wine
Similar to red wine, black grape juice and skins are used to make rosé; however, the skins are only used for a short time. What happens in the end? a flavour that is simple to pair with, a blush colour, and low tannins. Rosé can be made from any black grape type, and the flavour will vary according on the grape variety and the region where it was produced.
Orange Wine
Orange wine, often referred to as skin-contact wine or amber wine, is produced all over the world, but it is not, of course, made from oranges. These wines with a golden tint are actually white wines that have undergone red wine vinification. Depending on the grapes used and the country of origin, orange wine, like rosé, can taste sour, tannic, and dry with aromas of honey, crushed apple, sourdough bread, and even wood varnish.
Sparkling Wine
.Sparkling wine is a type of wine that has been filtered and then carbonated. As a result, it is effervescent and light, making it the perfect beverage to enjoy on a warm summer night. Sparkling wine is any wine that has carbonation. The bubbles, which can be white, rosé, or even crimson, are typically a normal byproduct of fermentation. There are numerous varieties of sparkling wine. The most widely consumed sparkling wines are American sparkling wine, prosecco, cava, and champagne. Only products produced in the Champagne region of northern France are eligible for the Champagne label.
Dessert Wine
The lines begin to converge at this point: Because they are both on the sweet side, dessert wines and fortified wines (more on those later) are frequently grouped together. Any sweet wine that is typically served after a meal is considered a dessert wine.
Fortified Wine
A wine that has been fortified with a distilled spirit, typically brandy, is known as a fortified wine. Port, sherry, madeira, marsala, commandaria wine, and the aromatized wine vermouth are just a few of the numerous fortified wine varietals that have developed over time. A wine that has been strengthened with a distilled spirit to increase its alcohol content is referred to as a fortified wine.
Fortified wine regulations encompass a variety of topics, including the acceptable range of ABV (alcohol by volume), age minimums and styles, kind of base wine, type of spirit that can be added and how, amount of sugar on a dry to sweet spectrum, and more.
Famous Wine Brands
We’ve put together a list of the top 27 wine brands in India in the hopes that it would help you learn more about wines.
Read More..
Is wine healthy to drink?
A glass of red wine every so often is good, according to study. It provides antioxidants, may lengthen life, and may aid in preventing heart disease and hazardous inflammation, among other benefits. The fact that red wine likely has more antioxidants than white wine is interesting to note.
Best 21 wine base cocktails
But most wines used in cocktails today are sparkling, fortified, aromatized, or distilled spirits made from wine
For Recipes click
