Last Saturday, I went to yet another wine tasting. It was the usual routine, tasting a range of wines and discussing the likes and dislikes with the others present.
For example, the three Chardonnays we tasted were totally different. They were from Australia, France and Italy. Each winemaker sought to produce a different style which resulted in a different end result. Ageing a Chardy in oak barrels really changes the taste and complexity of the grape. Therefore, the oaked Australian one tasted totally different to the unoaked Italian, Chardonnay.
It also makes you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth to compare and contrast the wines on offer with people with similar and different personal tastes. Whilst in the raptures of discovering buttery overtones, one of the females, Leeanne, claimed that this time next week, she was going to share a wine with friends without all the extra trimmings of tasting and evaluation we put ourselves through.
As next Saturday is Global Drink Wine Day, I thank Leeanne for bringing this to my attention. It’s a day that all wine drinkers and any newbies should toast – what we have access to and appreciate its history.
While we know humans have been making wine for thousands of years, no one is certain who was the first to ferment grapes into the beverage we now call wine. Evidence of ancient wine production has been found in China, the Middle East and Greece. It appears many different cultures in some way sought to produce wine.
The oldest known winery was found in a cave in the region of Vayots Dzor, Armenia. Discovered in 2007 the Areni-1 cave complex held evidence of large-scale wine production and the likely domestication of vines, with experts dating its existence to 6100 years ago!
The purpose of Global Drink Wine Day is to celebrate the appreciation we have for wine and how it has played an important role in history, religion, special occasions and relationships. We embrace the positive benefits of wine, such as making new friends, health benefits of wine and the enhancement of food and life, wine can bring.
Wine is one of life’s little luxuries that should be enjoyed far more regularly than once per year. Nonetheless, this Saturday 18 February is a special moment where millions around the world can raise a glass to the many benefits it brings and for a moment pay homage to the winemakers around the world.
