Wine is a centuries-old art, a modern science and a global business

Winemaking has been practiced in one form or another for many thousands of years with pottery jars found in Persia (present-day Iran) dating back to 5500 BC. C. and show evidence of the use of grapes for winemaking. In addition, Jiahu jars have also been discovered in China dating to between 6,000 and 7,000 BC. C. containing wine made from wild grapes.

However, whether we are talking about ancient or modern wine production, many of the same conditions apply and no different techniques are used, as the chemistry of the humble grape is an eternal quality.

With a few notable exceptions, the grapes used to make wine grow only in bands bounded by latitudes 30-50 degrees north and 30-45 degrees south of the equator. Unlike most other crops, grapes do not need particularly fertile soil and it is interesting to note that thinner soil often produces a smaller crop but also produces higher quality grapes.

Oddly enough, soils that are rich in nitrogen and other nutrients (conditions that are normally very beneficial to most plants) can produce grapes that are not suitable for winemaking. These grapes are usually very good to eat, but lack the desired amounts of minerals, acids, and sugars for winemaking.

Without a doubt, the best wines come from soils that would be considered poor quality for other agricultural purposes. For example, the stellar Bordeaux wines are made from grapes grown on stony soil, on a clay or chalk base. The harvest here is small, but the quality of the grapes produced is high. In this case, the pebbly soil allows for good drainage, which is vital as the vines must have enough water, but not too much, but these conditions force the roots to grow deep into the soil where they absorb a variety of complex minerals. .

Vineyards are also commonly found along river valleys, with slopes that provide plenty of sunshine. The vines in these circumstances are often of the European species vitis vinifera, from which many well-known wines are made, including Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Viticulture, the name used for the practice of growing grapes for wine, is one of the most complicated agricultural endeavors today. A master viticulturist (sometimes called a winemaker today), has to be an expert in a wide range of subjects including soil chemistry, fermentation, climatology, and various other ancient arts and modern sciences.

In addition to categorization by variety, wines are also classified by winemaking method (sparkling, still, rosé, fortified, blush), region (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace, etc.), vintage, and various other methods.

As soon as the producer, the chemist and the manufacturer have finished their work, the entrepreneur takes the stage and today wine is big business. Wine sales in the United States alone amount to something like 600 million gallons, representing more than $20 billion in consumer spending. Perhaps not surprisingly, France is in the lead when it comes to exports with 22% of world export volume, with Italy in second place.

However, at the end of the day, no matter how big the winemaking business has become, it is still very much a balance between science, art, and business, and winemaking is certainly not a business that can undertake someone of timid nature.