Wine – Photo by Terry Vlisidis on Unsplash
In every drop of wine, there is a tale waiting to be told. A tale that goes beyond the simple pleasure of savoring its taste with good food and great company. It’s a tale as old as time itself – a tale woven into the very fabric of art, history, and culture, dating back to those enigmatic eras that predate the annals of recorded history.
Nowadays, with modern technology and the best wine club membership, you can have an array of premium bottles delivered to your door. However, the human relationship with wine wasn’t always that convenient. If you’re keen to deepen your appreciation of this ancient beverage and squeeze more out of every drop you drink, here are a few of the most fascinating ways it has shaped art and history:
Table of Contents
Association with Mythology
Wine has been central to myths, stories, and legends for millennia. One of the more well-known stories relates to the creation of wine. According to legend, a bird brought seeds to the king’s feet in Persia in 4,000 BCE. The king planted the seeds and grew vines, which produced grapes.
The king collected the grapes and stored them in the royal deposit. Over time, the grapes fermented and turned into the dark liquid we know as wine. Believing it to be poisonous, the king’s wife tried to end her life by drinking it. Instead, she was later found happily singing and dancing.
Culinary Arts
Preparing delicious and well-balanced food is already a fine art. You could even get a college degree in the field. However, wine has undoubtedly enhanced the food industry.
Humans mastered the art of wine pairing and refined our practices for enhancing meal flavors with wine. Wine in the food industry has contributed to more sophisticated dining experiences overall.
Photo by Maksym Kaharlytskyi on Unsplash
An Art Inspiration
Some of the greatest artists have made wine the main focus of their artwork. The Triumph of Bacchus by Diego Velazquez in 1628 is a famous piece depicting Bacchus – the God of wine – leading mythological characters to victory. Art critics also rave about The Wine Glass and Girl With a Glass of Wine by Johannes Vermeer.
Famous Poetry and Literature
Wine has cured the dreaded writer’s block for many artists over the centuries. One of the most famous poets of the Tang dynasty, Li Bai, was a wine lover, and his passion for the boozy beverage inspired his best pieces. Drinking Alone by Moonlight is a celebrated example.
Literary mastermind Ernest Hemingway was another wine-loving creative genius. He wrote about wine in many of his works, including the famous 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises. Agatha Christie’s Sparkling Cyanide and Rex Pickett’s Sideways are other prominent examples.
Architectural Influences
We have many incredible wine-producing regions worldwide, and their cellars, chateaus, and wineries have created unique architectural styles for homes and other structures in those areas.
This is especially true in areas where housing developments started later than wineries. Wanting to blend seamlessly with the area, homeowners would build their houses using the same materials and features as those wineries.
Wine in Religious Rituals
Wine plays a crucial role in many religious practices and rituals. In the Old Testament, for example, wine was used for festive celebrations and sacrificial ceremonies. It was also described as a ‘bringer and concomitant of joy.’
We also commonly associate it with the Last Supper as a symbol of the blood of Christ. This has carried over to modern-day Christianity and Catholicism.
More than just a way to get tipsy, wine has been responsible for inspiring some of our most famous poems, works of art, architecture, and religious practices. Cheers to that!
