Wine and France

A Brief History

Bibliographic Data

ID12417585
AuthorsS K Estreicher (0000-0002-5119-1033, Texas Tech University, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume31
Issue2
Pages91-179
Publication date2023-01-16
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEuropean Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1062-7987 • E-ISSN: 1474-0575
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1062798722000370
OpenAlexW4316468293
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited33

The earliest archaeological evidence of wine making in Southern France is dated 425 bce . Viticulture was present along the Mediterranean coast of France when the Romans arrived (second century bce ) and flourished everywhere by the time they left (fifth century ce ). For several centuries, long-distance trade virtually disappeared and the infrastructure fell apart. Profitable viticulture remained mostly local and was concentrated in the hands of the wealthy nobility and the Church. After the turn of the first Millennium, towns became cities and a middle-class emerged. In the twelfth century, the wine trade with England gained importance. Wines were shipped from Rouen, Nantes, La Rochelle, and later Bordeaux. Monastic orders controlled the most fertile land, especially in Champagne and Burgundy. In the thirteenth century, the Languedoc became a part of France. During the Avignon papacy, new vineyards were planted, in particular Châteauneuf-du-Pape. After the Renaissance, scientific studies gradually improved viticulture and wine-making. Ultimately, fermentation was understood. The Dutch greatly expanded the wine trade. Then, the first intentionally bubbly wines, distilled wines, and noble-rot wines were made. Informal rankings of Bordeaux wines led to the famous 1855 classification. In the late nineteenth century, nature-made catastrophes, especially phylloxera, transformed France into the largest wine-importing country in the world. Sub-standard and blended wines became common, hurting the reputation of all French wines. The two world wars, the Great Depression and Prohibition shrunk the market for wines. The way out involved strict quality-control measures and hard work. The next problem could well be global warming

Aging of wine · Ancient history · Archaeology · Art · Art history · Cartography · Economic history · Fell · Geography · Nobility · Phylloxera · Political science · The Renaissance · Viticulture · Wine · Fermentation and Sensory Analysis · History · Horticultural and Viticultural Research · Law · Wine Industry and Tourism · Horticulture

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