First, realize beer came first. From the dawn of civilization before the end of the last ice age, man was gathering grain and making beer. When the pyramids were constructed, the workers were given a daily ration of 8 pints of beer. They loved their work!
The Greeks replaced beer with wine to be the most sophisticated of drinks – a status it enjoys today – but the Syrians discovered wine. How did the Syrians discover that fermented grape juice was an excellent beverage? There are several stories.
It’s told that Omar Khayyam wrote of a mighty king named Shyamalan who reigned in Persia. A son of the king saved a giant eagle’s life and in a show of gratitude, the eagle brought the king’s son strange seeds which after being planted “grew tall and sent out tendrils.” Once the fruit was picked, its juice was collected and began boiling without a fire (fermentation). Once the boiling had subsided, they gathered prisoners and gave them the juice (thinking it poison). After tasting it, the prisoners reported that their “…soul had forgotten all the sorrow of [their] life.” They called the plant “vine” and the juice “wine” and said it was a blessing from God. As it is today, proof that God loves us.
A second story involves Aristotle who wrote of another Persian King Jamshid who upon discovering grapes put them in a large jar for safe keeping. Their appearance and odor led the King to believe they were poison. However, one of his wives was affected with headaches. The pain distracted her so much she desired death. Observing the jar of poison, she swallowed it. The wine put her to sleep and when she awoke her headache was gone. She repeated this until all the wine was drunk. She then had her husband make more and the whole court drank the new beverage.
It was the first wine tasting and wine party. To this day, wine in Persia is known as “zeher-e-khoosh” or the “delightful poison.” Whichever story you like, both oral traditions have a romantic and exciting climax – the discovery of wine and its full enjoyment.
Over the centuries, wine has developed, changed, and improved. It eventually came to our country not by the Indians, but by European explorers and pilgrims. We just finished Thanksgiving and it is believed wine was served at the first Thanksgiving by the Pilgrims. The Vikings called North America “Vinland”, the land of wine, but there was no record of their wine-making. But from these beginnings we can answer the question, “Where did wine come from?” So as another year closes, we have the Persians, the Pilgrims and the Vikings to thank.
Next month I’ll tell you my 10 favorite wines of the year and my 10 favorite restaurant meals. Michael Caine gives us our closing thought – “Home is where the wine is.” Happy Holidays!
by Tom Black
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