Which has a longer history: rice wine or red wine?

In China, ancient legends have been passed down orally that the wine was made by Dukang. Although its authenticity cannot be judged, the origin of Chinese wine is fundamentally a product of agricultural civilization.

China is one of the earliest agricultural civilizations in the world. This has been confirmed by the archaeological discoveries of the Hongshan Culture in the Yellow River Basin and the Hemudu Culture in the Yangtze River Basin. As early as 7,000 years ago, the Hemudu Culture The ancient tribes on the edge of the Paleolithic and Neolithic ages during the Hongshan Culture period five to six thousand years ago have begun to learn farming. This can be seen from the large amounts of carbonized remains of grains and wheat stored in the house ruins of ancient human cultural settlements. It can be proved.

With abundant grain, during the process of large-scale storage of grain, especially for the primitive tribes in the Yangtze River Basin, a large amount of grain and sufficient water vapor made it possible for the grain to ferment accidentally.

Fermented grains may produce wine. The excitement and hallucinogenic effects of alcohol may have played a decisive role in primitive religions, and were therefore deified, sanctified, aristocratic, and professionalized, and ultimately in A set of specialized fermentation and brewing processes were summed up in the continuous production time, and the representative oriental rice wine culture was born.

Therefore, it is very likely that the actual birth history of wine is much earlier than our existing written records and archaeological discoveries, and it is also far earlier than the deification of Dukang's wine making.

Echoing the Eastern grain and wine culture is the Western fruit wine culture represented by ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, ancient Babylon, ancient Persia and other civilizations centered on the Mediterranean. .

Although there are still many disputes among scholars about the origin and time of wine, one indisputable fact is that the earliest wine recorded in the world was undoubtedly ancient Egypt. The history of the Pharaohs as recorded in hieroglyphics, and ancient Greece as described in the two long historical epics, the Odyssey and the Iliad.

Due to the production of fruits, as well as unique geographical and climatic factors, the pan-Mediterranean civilization mainly relied on meat instead of grains. Fruits seemed to be easier to ferment and were gradually recognized and eventually formed into wine.

Therefore, in Europe, the use of grain to make wine is very late, but the use of fruit to make wine can be traced back to ancient civilizations.

It seems that when God created grapes, he had an inseparable relationship with wine. Long before the emergence of wine, wine was used as a drink throughout the Mediterranean civilization because of its juicy, delicious and thin skin that was easy to squeeze. It is widespread in various places, and it seems logical that grape juice with high sugar content and easy storage should be fermented in the warm season of the Mediterranean region.

Although archaeological discoveries cannot accurately prove when wine was produced, there is evidence that wine may have existed in many ancient countries in the Mediterranean civilization area as early as 7,000 years ago.

The mature wine culture is also expanding to other fruits, such as apple cider, pear wine, orange wine and so on.

In a certain sense, the wine culture of the entire ancient Mediterranean civilization is the culture of fruit wine (including ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, ancient Babylon, ancient Persia, ancient Israel, ancient Rome, etc.).

There are many ways to classify wine, usually based on the combination of brewing method and color. It can be divided into still wine, sparkling wine, and distilled wine. Fortiled Wine) and flavored wine (Aromatized Wine) four categories.

Original wine can be divided into two types according to color: red wine (Red Wine) and white wine (White Wine). At the same time, because the grape variety and region will have a great impact on the taste of the wine, Therefore, grape varieties and origins have become important classification symbols for original wine.

The most famous sparkling wine is naturally the champagne named after the Champagne province. Champagne has strict definitions of origin and grape variety. Anything that does not meet this definition cannot be called champagne.

Distilled wine, also known as brandy.

The distillation process of brandy originated from Scotch whiskey. After hundreds of years of development, brandy has developed unique brewing, distillation and cellaring processes, forming a unique culture.

The most famous brandies are the blended Cognag produced in the Cognac Province and the single-brewed Armagnac produced in the Armagnac Province.

The raw material of wine - grapes, is native to the Transcaucasus region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. Wine culture has taken root in every corner of the world with the migration, expansion and colonial occupation of individuals in the Mediterranean civilization area. A good environment suitable for the spread of wine grapes can be found in the vast area of ​​​​40 degrees north and south latitude. Currently, grapes have been widely introduced to all over the world.

The alcoholic properties of wine are completely affected by factors such as soil, climate, and winemaking techniques, but the flavor of wine completely depends on the varieties of wine grapes.

Most of the best and most famous wines in the world are produced in France. The history of French wine production can be traced back to the Roman Empire.

Due to France’s mild climate, except for some areas in northern Normandy, high-quality grapes can be produced throughout the country.

In 1996, there were more than 818,000 hectares of vineyards in the country, 13 wine-producing areas, and a wine production of more than 4.6 billion liters.

France can be said to be one of the countries rich in wine.

Wine was introduced to the Western Regions by Zhang Qian in the Western Han Dynasty. After the opening of the ancient Silk Road, grapes were transferred to China, and wine was also spread to China.

However, since distillation technology had not yet appeared at that time, the quality control and maintenance of wine was a big problem. Therefore, good wine has always been a very precious palace luxury.

Modern Chinese wine originated after the Opium War. During the century-long semi-colonial rule of China by European powers, they also brought mature wine culture to China, and in what is now Yantai, Shandong A generation began to plant grapes on a large scale.

Currently, the two wine-making regions with the largest planting area and the best quality in China are the Yantai region in Shandong and the Sangyang Valley Basin in Hebei.

Not all varieties of grapes are suitable for making wine. Generally, grapes suitable for making wine need to have high sugar content and excellent taste.

Although Xinjiang’s grape production ranks first in the country, accounting for about 38% of the country’s grape production, Xinjiang’s grapes are not used to produce high-quality wine.

The following are some common grape varieties:

Varieties commonly used to make red wine

(Source: Red Wine Appreciation Handbook, White Wine Appreciation Handbook)

Caber Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is a red grape mainly used to make wine. Together with Chardonnay, it is the most widely used grape in the world. The cultivated grape variety Cabernet Sauvignon is a Eurasian species, also known as Cabernet, originating from Bordeaux, France.

Despite its long ripening period and low yield, Cabernet Sauvignon, a major type of Bordeaux wine, is widely planted around the world. It is the most popular black wine grape in the world and has the longest cultivation history. There are records of cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon grapes as early as the ancient Roman era (AD 23-79).

Point Noir (Point Noir)

Pinot Noir is the queen of precious red wine grapes.

It is characterized by elegance and richness, full and complex fruity flavor.

Pinot Noir can produce some of the most exciting red wines in the world, especially when grown in the limestone soils of Burgundy's Cordo region.

But beauty has its flaws. Pinot Noir is a grape variety that is generally considered difficult to grow. Although its berries mature earlier, they are fragile, thin-skinned, and easily rotten.

Pinot Noir thrives in a mild climate. Appropriate heat allows the fruit to ripen quickly and can control excessive natural acidity. Appropriate coolness prevents too much sun from causing alcohol content. Too high and you lose the excellent grass bud/cherry aroma.

These factors explain to a certain extent why in Burgundy, which has a changeable climate, wines from poor vintages are bland and tasteless, while wines from good vintages are outstanding.

For this reason, if Pinot Noir is grown in high-temperature areas outside northern Burgundy, the wine will be as sweet as jam and less balanced.

However, the differences between this premium red Burgundy and other Pinot Noirs can also be exaggerated.

In the cooler areas of California (Carneors) and Santa Barbara (Santa Barbara), Oregon's Willamette (Willamette) Valley, South Africa's Walker Bay (Walker Bay) and Australia In Yarra, wine merchants have cultivated mature and elegant Pinot Noir, which attracts the attention of today's people, especially the Burgundians.

New Zealand’s cool-climate Pinot grapes from Martinborough and Canterbury may become rising stars.

The necessary conditions for the best Pinot Noir are low production and the imagination and talent of the winemaker.

Syrah (or Shira)

Syrah is the prince of classical red wine grapes.

It is more powerful than Benny Shaw and has more storage value. When fully mature, it has a smooth and rich texture like a fine Pinot Noir.

This summary is absolutely true in the Northern Rhone, where it originates. Many outstanding red wines are produced there, such as Hermitage, Lottie Valley and Cornas. These red wines are powerful and powerful. Durable and long-lasting.

The southern Rhône, especially Châteauneuf-du-Pape, adds Syrah to the classic wine blend, making Glenache richer and of higher quality.

Syrah is a late-maturing variety with a darker color that grows best in warm soils such as granite.

However, if it is planted too densely, its unique mulberry aroma and black pepper flavor will become weaker, which is unfortunately the case in Australia.

There the name Syrah evolved into Syrah, and winemakers saw it as a cash cow and planted it in large quantities.

However, low-yielding, old-plant Syrah grapes are widely used by well-known producers such as Hermitage and Henschke in the Barossa and Victoria Goulburn Valley. ), the best red wine in Australia can be made from Chateau Tahbilk.

The Syrah produced in the Valais region of Switzerland is rich and Rhone-like; while the best wines in Paarl and Stellenbosch in the Cape Province The main dish is fresh, fragrant and tender.

Merlot

Merlot is the most popular red grape variety in Bordeaux, with more planting area than the two Cabernet grapes combined.

Merlot is popular because it ripens early, is fresh and prolific, and can be used to make delicious, smooth wines in large quantities.

Merlot grows well in cooler places and produces the richest and best wines in Pomerol, the famous one being Chateau Petrus.

The disadvantage of Merlot is that it is prone to rot when there is too much rainfall.

In the higher-temperature Languedoc-Rousillon vineyard, Merlot has become the most successful "improved grape" since its introduction in the 1980s, and its quality Much improved.

In the West Coast of the United States, because Merlot does not contain coarse tannins, the wine produced has become a fashionable wine for beauties.

Sonoma's Stag's Leap and Matanzas Creek's carefully brewed Merlot wines are also good.

Grenache

Grenache is the second most produced grape variety in the world.

Negro or Garnacha is grown in Spain (its famous origin) and in southern France. It adds spiciness to the refined Tempranillo in Rioja red wine. It adds aroma and texture and is a powerful driver of Chateauneuf du Pape and Gigondas.

In the tropics, the red wine brewed by Glenash has a strong aroma of juicy black plums, with a hint of Province vanilla, and its natural alcohol reaches 14 degrees.

When planted too densely, the taste of Glenache will become heavy and coarse; but if the yield is kept low, the wines such as Chateau Rayas and Saint-Gayan in the Rhone region Take Domaine St-Gayan as an example. Its wines are exquisite and touching.

TimGramp in Mcclaren Vale and Catalan in Priorato (Priorato is located in Australia) Producers and winemakers in the mountains behind Nades are increasingly using Negroni Nash to great effect.

Entering France along the Cattleya coast, the Glenache dessert wine produced in Banyuls has an extraordinary taste and is best paired with the local mogul.

Mourvèdre

Before the plague of grape aphids, Mourvèdre was once the main grape variety. Now, although Grenache and Cinsault The status of the Cinsault grape is more important, but the small-grained and thick-skinned Mourvedre is still the core and characteristic variety for making Bandol wine.

Bandol is Provence's top red wine, produced from many vineyards near the coast of Toulon.

Mourvedre wines have strong black grape fruit flavors and sour tannins, but they need a seaside, warm environment in summer to fully mature. Bandol has become the natural choice for Mourvedre. home.

The blends made by Mourvedre at the Chateau Neuve are doing well; now Mourvedre (known locally as Mataro) is also becoming fashionable in Midi and California Get up; the particularly fruity Mourvedre from Ridge Vineyard in Santa Cruz is an example of this variety.

In Spain, Mourvedre is called Monastrell and is the main force in the local production of high-quality strong wines.

Tempranillo

Tempranillo is a relatively early-ripening, thick-skinned grape, and is a valuable grape variety in Spain.

The red wine produced is dark in color, good in composition and not too high in alcohol content.

It is precisely because of these characteristics that it has become an ideal candidate for high-altitude vineyard selection in places such as Rioja Alta and Alavesa, accounting for the local planting area. 70% of it is also the best local fruit.

It blends well with Glenache from Rioja Baja and Navarra, and is also an increasingly popular alternative to Alto Castile. The main variety of Castille’s Ribeira del Duero red wine.

In Portugal, the name of Tempranillo was changed to Tinto Lorez, which is one of the main grape varieties of Duero Port wine.

Nebbiolo

Nebbiolo is undoubtedly one of the finest grape varieties, producing superb and long-lasting red wines.

However, it is very picky about location and soil quality, so it has not been planted in other areas except northeastern Italy and Piedimont.

The word Nebbiolo comes from the Italian word "nebbia", which refers to the mist that covers the hillsides of Barolo and Barbaresco in autumn, extending the grape growing season. .

Nibbiolo is usually picked after mid-October. The first brewed wine has a strong sour taste and needs to be aged in the bottle for several years before it can be drunk.

It’s worth the time, as the best Barolos and Barbarales offer a wonderful combination of rose aromas and tarry power.

Nowadays, people are beginning to favor the friendly Piedimonte Nibbiolo wines, which are aged in old barrels for a shorter period of time to avoid losing quality.

Nibbiolo is also grown in Brescia and is used as an ingredient in Franciacorta and Val d'Aosta.

In California, some plantation owners have also tried to grow nebbiolo, but have not yet achieved significant results.

Sangiovese

Sangiovese is a grape variety widely planted in central Italy. The quality of the wine made from it may vary greatly. difference.

Like Pinot Noir, Sangiovese matures easily and has many plant varieties. Its varieties can be roughly divided into Sangiovese Grosso and Sangiovese Grosso. ·Sangiovese Piccolo.

The best Sangiovese wine comes from Grosso in Tuscany, in pure rather than blended form, such as the famous slow-brewing red wine Bronnello Mango Brunello di Montalcino and the low-key but approachable Morellino di Scansano.

Sangiovese is the mainstay of Chianti wine. It plays an important role in the grape blend together with the new and more friendly Canai.

Sangiovese is a late-ripening variety that prefers the lime soil of Chianti Classisco between Florence and Siena.

It has high acidity and tannic acid content, with a clear and elegant ruby ​​color. It needs to be aged in the bottle for several years to truly reveal the iris off-flavor, cherry and plum flavors.

The balance in the mouth and longevity make this a truly premium red wine.

The best Sangiovese, like a fine Pinot Noir, wins over with elegance rather than force.

In Argentina, Sangiovese has also been successfully cultivated by Italian descendants, and the Italians used Napa and California's Central Coast Cabernet to blend promising Sangiovese wines.

Varieties commonly used to make white wine

Chardonnay

Chardonnay (also known as Chardonnay) grape is the most famous in the world No matter where the grape is grown, no matter how much it is worth, as long as the wine has the word "Chardonnay" on the label, the wine will sell well.

Chardonnay grape is very adaptable. It is a grape that is easy to grow and process whether in the vineyard or in the winery, and its sales are also very good - this What a perfect combination.

Chardonnay grapes do not have high climate requirements.

In the cold, dark, and humid climate of the far north of France, it can grow in poor and slightly acidic soil where other crops can hardly survive, and eventually produces Champagne and Chablis. (Chablis) wine.

When the Chardonnay grape is unripe, the fruity flavor is sour and light, but when the wine matures, the aroma increases surprisingly.

It also grows well in well-irrigated vineyards in Australia’s hottest regions, producing a buttery, tropical fruity aroma with an alcohol content of often as high as 15 degrees.

Riesling

Riesling grape is the best white grape in the world.

No white grape has such diversity as the Riesling grape: depending on the place of origin and Tibetan wine, it ranges from no sweetness to sweetness, from light floral to fruity. There are a range of varieties ranging from oily to waxy.

It holds wine in an amazing way.

Among all white grapes, only Riesling grapes can be stored for decades.

Riesling grapes are very picky about where they are grown.

Preferably a sunny location, but paradoxically, Riesling grapes grow better in cooler locations than warmer ones.

It’s best to get plenty of sunlight over a long period of time.

During the long, dry autumn, it produces the best quality white wines if there are enough hours of sunshine.

If the climate is suitable and rare wilt occurs, late-harvest berry top quality and non-sweet berry top style wines can be obtained.

Riesling grapes can also grow in warm places, but ripening too quickly reduces the aroma.

In contrast to the Chardonnay grape, the Riesling grape is very attractive in its pure form.

Chardonnay is regarded as a bar girl. It’s not that she is unattractive, but she is too superficial. People only pay attention to her because of her lively makeup and seductive clothes with oak fragrance.

On the contrary, the Riesling grape is like a mature countess. It takes time to appreciate her, but it is time well spent.

Semillon grape (Semillon)

Like Chardonnay grape, Semillon grape can also produce a range of quality from "very average" to "excellent" of wine.

It also has no peculiar smell and can produce wine with low acidity and high alcohol content. It is very suitable for barrel fermentation and storage.

One of the characteristics of its unsweetened wines is a peculiar waxy aroma, accompanied by a hint of lemon.

Few grapes have such dramatic ups and downs in quality.

Most of the world's Sammeron grapes are bland, but there are a few areas that produce wonderful results.

The Hunter Valley of New South Wales is one of them, and Bordeaux is the second. In Bordeaux, whether sweet wine or non-sweet white wine, it is usually mixed with Sauvignon Blanc wine. Mainly due to the latter's special aroma and significant acidity.

One of the reasons why Sammyron must be included in the list of rare grapes is that it has a significant tendency to wilt when the weather permits.

Some people believe that the Chautagne region in the southeast of Bordeaux, especially Chateau d'Yquem, produces the best sweet wine in the world.

Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc (also known as White Brown) grape is another grape that can evolve into many different styles.

In South Africa, it is like a hardy man who continues to produce neutral, slightly sweet and unsweetened everyday cheap wines.

In the Loire Valley (Loirevalley), this time-honored variety produces some of the most durable sweet wines, such as the famous wines Quartsde Chaume and Bonnezeaux. In good grape years, it can also produce famous wines. Coteaux du Layon and some heady, aromatic, non-sweet white wines such as Savennieres.

The high-yielding Shunian grapes have almost no smell, but the high-quality Shunian grapes have a fragrant aroma, which is floral when light and tender, and gradually produces lanolin and wax as the wine is stored. Fragrant – This makes it sometimes confused with Riesling wine.

Caber Sauvignon

Pouilly Fume grape and Sancerre grape, like twin brothers, are grown in the Loire River in northern France. On both sides of the Loire, 10 or 12 years ago, there was the prototype of Xiaoweiang wine. It was light in color and contained a spicy and grassy aroma. It was often called "Cat Xiao Shui".

But that was before the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc grape revolution.

New Zealand winemakers have created a white Sauvignon grape variety that is adapted to the local cold climate and has a unique style, so that New Zealand's Sauvignon grape is now regarded as the standard of Sauvignon grape.

Whether the white Sauvignon grape is related to the rare Sauvignon grape remains to be verified, but their geographical origins must be similar. The "home" of the Sauvignon grape is Bordeaux, also in the center of the Loire. vineyards in the area.

The Sauvignon grape is widely grown around the world, mostly for its aromatic aroma.

Words that describe it include gooseberry, aged, grassy, ​​asparagus and green bell pepper, rather than the added scent of oak.

However, some winemakers do use wooden barrels. Some, such as Cloudy Bay in New Zealand, use wooden barrels to stop the wine from being light and tender. Strong oak flavor.

Gewurztraminer

If tested with eyes closed, the grape that newly trained novices would most like to see is Gewurztraminer. Minna grapes.

The wine it produces has a fragrant aroma of flowers, spices and some lychee. It is completely different from other wines, so you are always sure to guess it.

This was originally a natural variant of the Traminier grape native to Termeno, the village of Tramin in Tyrol, Italy. Now this The best of a variety come from the Alsace region in the far north of France.

If you can afford Grand Cru, you might as well look for this aromatic version that is the easiest to drink. It usually has low acidity, which makes them taste not sweet at all. The astonishing alcohol content is masked by the rich aroma.