Since the beginning of civilization, wine has been a source of pleasure to mankind. Wine is one of the first things man created. No one knows who made the first wine or enjoyed its effect, but it is woven through the tapestry of human history like few other products. It has played many roles as part of religious ceremonies, as medicine and antiseptic, a water purifier, a transformer of meals into feasts, and as a comforting friend and a courageous partner.

What is wine?

If put in sufficiently general terms, wine is the naturally fermented juice of fresh fruit or berries. Wine derived from the juice of grapes will be our focus here. Wine is foremost an agricultural product. With only minor assistance by man, grapes are converted by nature, in a chemical process, into an alcoholic beverage. Using a few skilled techniques, man can create wines of immense variety that can be bottled and transported around the world, and at their best, through time, develop an apparent soul of their own, creating an almost sublime experience.

Today, we know more about wines than ever before. We know how to cultivate the highest quality grapes to produce fine wines, and how to pair them with foods to show both at their very best. We have learned, or perhaps rediscovered, wine as a principle source of nourishment and the benefits it can bring when consumed in moderation as part of a healthy diet.

In enjoying wine we connect with history and with those before us who have participated in one of mankind’s earliest and simplest pleasures. Educating ourselves about wine and its proper use can only help us to enjoy it to the fullest, and to make it part of a gracious way of life.

Special Occasions – What to serve

Weddings
The most obvious occasions for champagne. With large numbers price can be critical so try “house” champagne from independent merchants. They cost little more than supermarkets own-label offerings. Also, give a thought to English sparkling wines which are now winning awards and becoming popular.

Christenings
These are usually afternoon events, traditionally tea parties. A lot of sweet things call for a demi-sec champagne or better still, a delicious grapey fizz.

18th or 21st Birthdays
You might serve champagne as a toast but for the rest, sparkling wine, which is not too dry, is fine. Young people are often unused to wine, so some easy drinking fruity new world wines, not to mention few beers would be welcome. And lay on plenty of water and soft drinks.

Golden weddings
Older people tend to develop the case a taste for softer, slightly sweeter wines. Consider medium dry whites.

Anniversaries and romantic occasions
With intimate dinners for two, the key is your partner’s tastes. A safe bet would be a top red burgundy.

Keeping Wine

You have to treat wine with respect. And that and means tucking it away somewhere cool and dark, not leaving it in a wine rack on top of the washing machine. Wine should be stored on its side so the cork remains damp and air can’t get in to spoil the taste. Avoid extremes of temperature, a cupboard under the stairs is better than a draughty garage where temperatures can drop below freezing.

Of course not all wines are built to last. Most inexpensive wines should be consumed within six months. And I wouldn’t keep any wine under a fiver longer than a year. After that it depends on style of wine. Wines that age well include most Rieslings, Australian Semillon, Chablis and other top white Burgundies, full-bodied reds, fortified wines such as Port and Sherry. How long depends on how good they are. A basic supermarket own-brand Chablis, for instance, is likely to keep less well than a premier or Grand Cru one, which would easily keep for four or five years.

Bear in mind you may not like the taste of wine that is kept for a long time: if you enjoy the fresh fruity flavour of Australian Riesling, you may dislike the petrol overtones it develops in time. Similarly the intense raspberry fruit of a young Burgundy can acquire a farmyard aroma with age. Don’t be browbeaten into thinking that all wines improve with age. By and large they don’t!