What do you think of when you think of wine? The first thought that pops into my head is stuffy waiters, rich clientele, and a french menu. Surprisingly wine is not just for the rich but is for the average person. All it takes is a little bit of knowledge to become a wine connoisseur. The fact is wine has made a cultural stamp in every generation since civilization started all the way to today's society. Wine flows through yours and my historical veins. I became first interested when my boyfriend and I traveled to the wineries of Elgin, outside of Tuscon, Arizona. With someone elses ID I discovered what my wine tastes were. As a beginner in the world of wine, I have scoured the internet and read a couple books to be half-way knowledgeable about this topic. First I will give a brief history of wine and the social aspects of it, second I will give you the correct way to taste wine, and third I will tell you how you can enjoy a variety of wine this state has to offer.
Wine has made its mark upon civilization since about 5000 B.C. It was probably invented by accident by letting grapes ferment in their containers. The taste might have been very different from today, but the effect was the same. Wine made the timid more vivacious and the lovers more romantic. Early civilizations, such as the Egyptians, cultivated their own wine and traded with Mesopotamia and Persia. Containers of wine were found in King Tuts tomb. Only royalty could afford this drink. Greek civilization had a god of wine, Dionysus. The Romans carried on the tradition with Bacchus. Cults to wine deities were abundant in this era. Wine was not for the average joe; the elite coveted the drink. The monks of the Dark Ages were the kept wine making alive. Due to the fact that they were few who could read. Wine was part of a Medieval persons diet, due to unsafe drinking water. When countries began trading, many wars between nations were started.