Throughout history certain scientific advances have directly influenced the production of wine. Without many of these developments, wine as we know it would not exist.

A single individual can bring about technological advances in the wine industry, e.g. the invention of Champagne. However, many new wine-related discoveries were the result of the combined efforts of many, as well as the general tests of time.

Three major accomplishments that have greatly influenced the growth of wine as a worldwide industry are - Improved bottle making; Accessories such as the cork and corkscrew; and finally, the discovery of Champagne.

Wine plays a major role in today's modern societies, and it is important to remember that this role would not have been possible without the advances of science over the centuries.

The Wine Bottle

The evolution of the bottle is essential in the development of wine as an industry. Without the means to store and transport wine effectively, it would not have become the worldwide industry we know today.

In ancient times wine was stored in a clay vase called an amphora. The typical amphora looked like a root vegetable with a long neck. The bottom end was never flat and was either pointed or bulbous. Size varied widely, but the average Greek amphora was about 40 litres, and Roman ones 26 litres. Bars had special stands that were usually tripods placed against walls to hold them. Both the amphora and its tripod were sturdy enough to survive sea voyages, which facilitated the trade of wines throughout the Mediterranean. The amphora also kept wine for long periods if properly sealed. Without it the ancient world probably would not have developed its wine trade to an advanced state.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, wine was stored in bottles or sacks made of animal skins. Wine could still be transported across oceans, but it was difficult to keep it fresh for long periods of time.
Most wine had to be consumed soon after its production in order to keep it from turning into vinegar. This did not hinder wine's popularity, however, since it was one of the few widely available beverages of the time.

After glass bottles became more durable, it became evident that wine aged in these bottles grew in taste. The glass bottle became the preferred storage method of wine. Eventually, bottles evolved to hold different types of wines. With the onslaught of new drinking choices in the 17th century, better methods for storage and transportation of wine had to be developed. Before this time bottles were made for the ease of bringing wine to the table and nothing more. In England consumers began to demand a better method of storing their wine and new glass making techniques were invented.

Wine Cork and Corkscrew

The inventions of the cork and corkscrew were essential to the growth of the wine industry. Without a way to seal wine and then later remove that seal, the discovery that wine improves with age may never have occurred.

In the time of the Greeks and Romans wine was kept in clay amphora jars and sealed with cork when available. This cork seal was not very tight and wine could not be kept for long periods of time. Most often these jars were sealed with wax or resin. In order to open them the top had to be scrapped off, which made resealing them very difficult. Still, this was practical for the time period and did not hamper the trade of wine between various regions of Europe.

It wasn't until the 17th and 18th centuries that the concept of the cork and corkscrew was developed. Wine makers began to look for a way to seal their ware that was both durable and easy to make. The light and clean properties of the bark on the cork oak made it very appealing to wine makers. It was also available in mass quantities and fairly easy to manufacture. Cork does not go brittle or rotten for a very long time after it is in a bottle and can even stay functional for almost half a century. In modern times, the best corks are kept for the best wines.

The invention of the corkscrew almost coincided with that of the cork. Once consumers had a method to remove a cork from their wine bottles, instead of using it as a stopper, wine makers could drive the cork into the bottle. As early as the 17th century there are records of drinkers using "steel worms" and "bottle screws" to remove the cork from their wine bottles. The word "corkscrew" became frequently used by the 1720s. Various types of corkscrews exist today and this wide range of choices lets the individual wine lover choose the one that is best suited to them.

History of Champagne

Perhaps one of the most important scientific advances in the field of wine making was the discovery of Champagne. In 1668 a monk named Dom Perignon was appointed the treasurer of Hautvilliers Abbey in the Champagne region of France. The Hautvilliers Abbey wanted to develop its wine trade and felt that Dom Perignon was the man who could achieve that goal.

One of Perignon's first successes was to organize the grape harvest in such a way that truly white wine could be produced. He also studied wines to discover the best ways to preserve them without losing their flavours or textures. Perignon developed the following rules to ensure a good vintage:

• Only use Pinot Noir.
• Prune the vines so that they will grow no higher than three feet.
• Keep the grapes intact during harvest, and work in as cool weather as possible.
• Do not tread the grapes and be sure that none of their skin ends up in the juice.

Perignon discovered that the greener and lighter his wines, the more apt they were to fizz in the spring. Ironically, Perignon spent his life trying to prevent this fizzing, but the European public demanded more and more of the sparkling wine. Eventually Champagne became the rage in European society and its production rate soared.

Because sparkling wines had a tendency to explode in their bottles, their storage cellars required special attention. It was found that deep cellars with consistent temperatures had the lowest quantity of burst bottles. Champagne, although quite admired in Europe, was not established as an industry until the 19th century. Thus Champagne became one of the most desired and circulated wines of the 19th and 20th centuries.