History of Red Wine
The earliest evidence or red wine production seems to have occurred around 6000 BC, principally in Georgia and in Iran. Red wine itself can be divided into six main types of red grape varieties that contribute to the continuing development of this celebrated fruity sweet and alcoholic beverage.
Here we call attention to the six most important Red Grape Varieties. Write a little about the unique flavors, each grapes history, personality, characteristics of the wine they produce, and where they are grown.
Cabernet Sauvignon
This grape variety has a recent history – of less than 600years to be precise. Sauvignon grapes seem to have been first mentioned during the 18th century when one Baron De Brane is said to have planted a red wine grape called Vidure, French for ‘hardy vine.’ A popular vine that is grown in Australia, statistics tell us that in 2001 more than 28,000 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted there. Interestingly, whilst unripe Cabernet Sauvignon grapes produce a ‘grassy’ flavored wine, ripe grapes of this variety yield a rich, ripe flavour.
Chianti
One of the best known of Italian wines, it is a very old wine with a history stretching back before the 15th century, when Chianti is actually referred to as a white wine. The earliest documentation of a “Chianti wine” dates back to the thirteenth century when viticulture was known to flourish in the “Chianti Mountains” around Florence. The main type of grape in Chianti is the Sangiovese, but it may also contain Cabernet Sauvignon grapes too. Chianti wines are considered to be among the best to be produced in Italy. It is described as being a luscious wine due to its rich berry fruitiness.
Merlot
Merlot grapes can be traced back to 1st century France. The name Merlot is thought to be a diminutive of merle, the French name for the blackbird, probably a reference to the color of the grape. Its softness and “fleshiness”, combined with its earlier ripening, makes Merlot a popular grape for blending with the sterner, later-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon. They are disadvantaged by their largeness and their thin skins, both of which makes them tempting targets for birds. However, this variety can thrive in cool climates and poor soil. The main French region for growing the Merlot variety is Bordeaux, and in similarity to Sauvignon Blanc grapes, Merlot is also successfully grown in north east italy.
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Pinot Noir
This grape variety has a long history indeed since it dates back to the Romans and is affiliated to the noble Pinot family. It has religious connections in that it was used by Catholic monks in their sacraments. Thanks to the planting and replanting by these monks, Europe was enabled to develop specific varieties of grapes (and hence) wines to a particular region. By the 6th century barrels of Pinot Noir were being exported to the Pope. Predominantly grown in France, Pinot Noir has a rich full bodied flavour which compliments its soft, velvety texture. It is neither acidic nor tannic.
Sangiovese
Believed to have originated from Tuscany in 1722, it is where the majority of Sangiovese grapes are still grown today. The literal translation of the grape’s name, the “blood of Jove”, refers to the Roman god Jupiter. According to legend, the name was coined by monks from the commune of Santarcangelo di RomagnaThey are also grown successfully in California where the climate resembles Tuscany. From the 1890s onwards, this variety was used in the production of Chianti wine. Fourteen separate and distinctive clones of Sangiovese have been identified.
Zinfandel
A variety that produces abundant fruit, its first appearance was in the USA in the 1830s. By the 1860s it was being produced in Californian wineries and has been defined as being one of the oldest wine varietals in California. It is difficult to cultivate due to its tendency to ripen unevenly.
Exploration
The first variety of grape to be cultivated in unknown. However, with regards to wine making it is the Egyptians who left a detailed legacy of how wine was produced. This they did through their tomb paintings. Grapes were harvested with a curved knife and gathered in wicker baskets. From there they were placed in vats of acacia wood and trodden on. The Greeks most likely learnt their viticulture from the Babylonians, whilst the Romans improvised on Greek knowledge and techniques. The Romans chose Marseilles as their base and from here established the major wine producing regions of France. The Romans also developed the vineyards of the Rhine and Mosel in Germany.
Regarding Bordeaux wines, at the beginning of the 2nd millennium, ‘claret’ was being shipped to England from the Bordeaux region. By the 14th century, half of the wine produced in this region was sent to England in ships. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the majority of wine produced in the Bordeaux region was controlled by merchants from England, the Netherlands and Germany. In 1855 these merchants ranked these distinguished Bordeaux wines as Grands Crusclanes, a classification that still exists today.
The 10 most expensive Red Wines in the world.
Accourding to finances online.com
You do not have to have a lot of money to find a great bottle of Red Wine. However if you have the money or are in the mood to buy a really expensive bottle then here are ten of the most expensive red wines in the world.
1. Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 – $500,000.00 per bottle
2. Chateau Margaux 1787 – $500,000.00 per bottle
3. Chateau Lafite 1787 – $160,000.00 per bottle
4. Penfolds Grange Hermitage 1951 – $38,420.00 per bottle
5. Cheval Blanc 1947 – $33,781.00 per bottle
6. Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon 1941 – $24,675.00 per bottle
7. Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1945 – $23,000.00 per bottle
8. Domaine de la Romanee-Conti 1990 – $20,975.00 per bottle
9. Chateau Lafite 1865 – $4,650.00 per bottle
10. Chateau Margaux 2009 Balthazar – $4,062.00 per bottle