Wine has delighted people since before history was recorded. From ancient Greece, Egypt and China, through Medieval Europe, and all the way to modern day production in the “new” world of the Americas and Australia, wine has been celebrated in cultures around the word for purposes varying from religious observance to pure, old-fashioned hedonism.
As we sip from a glass of Chateauneuf-du-Pape and enjoy conversation with friends, it can be fun to imagine how this lovely habit came to be.
Wine appreciation in America has played a significant role in our young nation’s cultural maturation, and while wine drinking culture in the US has had its ups and downs (let’s just forget about the whole Prohibition thing), its history is a long and fascinating one. From early Spanish colonists to Thomas Jefferson, wine cultivation was attempted with varying success before there were United States.
It is fun to find evidence of our wine drinking past like this excerpt from The New York Times dated May 7, 1893:
New York Times, May 7, 1893
I highly recommend reading the full pdf of this archived piece. By examining and appreciating the roots of our affinity for wine, I believe we can enjoy the flavor and experience of a nice glass that much more!
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