Wine plays an intricate role throughout many aspects of world history and culture.

The development of wine closely parallels that of western civilisation. As civilisations became more advanced, so did the wine industry. Where wine was once only available to a select few, it eventually came to be found in almost every home throughout the world.

Wine and Agriculture

We have evidence of wine production that dates back as far as the early civilisations of Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. The Egyptians seemed particularly fond of wine and depicted its harvest on many of their tomb walls and stone tablets. It seems that the production of wine was an intricate part of their daily agriculture.

The Greeks also celebrated the cultivation of grapes and held many religious festivals to ensure for a good harvest. The study of wine making and grape cultivation played a large part in their everyday life as well.

In more recent history, since the first commercialisation of wine centuries ago, wars and other destructive events have called for massive replanting of Europe's vineyards. These replantings have not only influenced the wine industry, but the agriculture and environment around the vineyards of Europe as well. Smaller vineyards may have lost their method of earning a living and turned to growing other crops. Also, the increase of larger vineyards in both Europe and the New World has caused many individual farmers to stop cultivating grapes and search for other ways to survive financially.

Many environmentalists believe that the fumigation processes used by some of the larger wineries may lead to the destruction of natural plant and animal life. Many farmers and environmental activists alike are currently researching this problem.
Perhaps the most famous example of wine's agricultural impact on the world is illustrated by the Phylloxera outbreak in the late 1800s. When this disease first struck, wine growers tried to halt it through the use of fumigation.

However, fumigation did not solve the problem, since it caused the deaths of too many vines as well as workers. By the time agriculturalists discovered that grafting Old World vines onto New World plants halted the spread of Phylloxera, many French vineyards had been lost.

Although the French lost much of their prime wine region to Phylloxera, they soon found another area to cultivate grapes in the Rioja region of Spain. Since that time, Rioja has produced many of the world's finest wines, turning a tragedy into something positive.
Phylloxera is still a problem in the wine industry. In 1996 many of the California vines were destroyed by a new strain of Phylloxera. Currently the wine industry has joined scientists around the world to find a solution to the continuing problem of Phylloxera. There is hope that the combined efforts of these two groups will discover a way to halt Phylloxera in the near future.

Wine consumption has influenced our political and religious beliefs. Certain civilisations were so enraptured by this beverage, that they formed entire religious cults devoted to its promotion. Other religions used wine in their ceremonies, some of which continue in today's world.

Wine and Medicine

Throughout history the health benefits of wine have been researched and discussed. In ancient times wine was said to bring a higher state of consciousness to its drinkers. Wine has been regarded as a source of comfort and courage as well as a way to lift the spirits of a tired and downtrodden individual. Some recent scientific studies relate to the healthy benefits of drinking wine.

Something known as the "French Paradox" has long astounded individuals around the world. People wondered why the French, who eat more red meat and smoke more than other nations, also suffered from fewer heart attacks. In the 1980s medical studies found that people who consume moderate amounts of red wine are less likely to suffer from cardiovascular disease than non-drinkers or heavy drinkers. These findings led health conscious people around the world to ask for red wine more frequently.

Throughout history individuals have preached the digestive powers of wine. Wine can help wipe out the bacteria that are responsible for food-related stomach problems. The antioxidants in wine have recently been linked to the prevention of heart disease and cancer. These antioxidants have compounds in them that inhibit the formation of cancer cells and reduce the build-up of fat cells in the arteries. Wine drinkers also seem to have less of a chance of succumbing to Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia.

Wine and Religion

References to wine and religion exist as far back as Ancient Egypt. In Ancient Egypt wine was regarded as a gift from the gods. This belief may have come from the fact that Egyptian wine was only available to the socially elite classes.

Wine was used in funeral rites as well. The higher the social status of the deceased, the greater quantity of wine was used to anoint his body and belongings before entombment. Some Pharaohs, such as King Tutankhamen, were given jars of wine in their tombs in order to accompany the royal spirit on its journey to the underworld. The Ancient Persians also shared the belief that wine was a gift from the gods and would make toasts in order to praise those gods.

The Greeks and Romans also gave wine a place in their religious beliefs. The Greek god Dionysus, was thought to promote vegetation and fruitfulness. Wine was said to be a gift to the people from him, and one of his festivals held in late December was for the celebration of the new wine of the vintage. The Romans continued this practice with their god Bacchus. Their devotion to Bacchus led to the development of wine making techniques that continued to be unequalled until the 17th century.

Wine plays a major role in the Jewish, Islamic, and Christian cultures. In Jewish ritual, each Sabbath begins with a blessing chanted over a cup of wine, which the whole family then shares. Specific amounts of wine must also be drunk at Passover, weddings and circumcisions. Although wine is a strong component of the Jewish faith, the Dionysian idea that intoxication is a higher state of consciousness is rejected.

The rise of the Islamic Empire halted the production of wine. Since the consumption of alcohol was prohibited by the Islamic code of law and theology, the development of wine making was almost stopped in a geographic area that stretched from northern India to Spain.

In Christian ritual wine is also given a role of importance. The first miracle of Jesus at Cana occurred when he turned water into wine at a wedding feast, thereby setting the stage for later use of wine in Christian practices. The Christian Eucharist also relates to the consumption of wine. The last supper and the symbolism of Christ's sacrifice of himself have many interpretations and different rituals. Many of these, including the Catholic mass call for the use of wine in the performance of the Eucharist.