A friend asked if Italian wine was difficult to learn. "difficult!"
? When asked why, I just gave a strange smile, because it has a long history and diverse styles. Listeners are usually confused, and the already vague eyes have more confused colors. It seems that August 18 is the time for Italian legendary wine history. It's long and thick, and it's suitable to experience with admiration. Ready, now, let's go!
Fossils of wild European vines formed in Quaternary (2.48 million years ago) have been found in some areas of Italy ... (Please ignore them automatically because they are too old)
In Italy, the history of grape cultivation can be traced back to the 8th century BC, when Etruscans began to live in today's Tuscany and umbria. They domesticated wild vines, and used trees as natural supports to cultivate vines artificially, forming a pruning method higher than the ground. This pruning method is also the predecessor of high-trained system, which is widely used in some producing areas in Italy. As early as the 7th century BC, Etruscans created the prosperity of wine trade, even exported to southern France and Spain, and wine became one of their core cultures. Until the 6th century BC, Etruscans occupied most of central Italy and northern areas along the Po River, including Lombardy, Veneto, Piedmont and emilia-romagna, and reached a prosperous period. They taught the indigenous people in Piedmont, Lombardy and Veneto advanced cultivation and brewing methods and how to store wine. But it didn't last long. In the 5th century BC, the Celts occupied northern Italy and replaced the Etruscans. Tough Celtic, I feel a little sad for the Etruscans. It is true that the predecessors planted trees and the descendants enjoyed the cool! )
On the other hand, from the 8th century BC to the 6th century BC, Greeks migrated to the southern Italian coast and established colonial cities in today's Sicily, Campania, Calabria, basilicata and Puglia. Greek colonists not only had a far-reaching influence on local politics and culture, but also laid the foundation of post-Roman culture, and brought advanced planting and brewing techniques to the south, just like the Etruscans played in the north and central regions. They found that the suitable climate and diverse soil in the south were more likely to stimulate the potential of grapes, so they brought many grape varieties from Greece, and Muscat Blanca Petits Grains was introduced at that time. Since then, the Greeks called southern Italy "Honoria", which means the hometown of wine, and associated wine with Dionysus, the god of wine in Greek mythology. Later, the Romans gave him a new and louder name-Bacchus.
If the previous history is still small and fresh, then the long history of Rome will make a great contribution to Italian wine. Since the 4th century BC, the Roman Republic has gradually become the main political and military authority of the Italian Peninsula. The Romans learned the best planting and brewing techniques from Etruscans and Greeks. Some specific white wines, such as Kakuben in Lazio, Farenham in Campania and Mamtinam in Sicily, are considered as the earliest premium wines in Italy. At that time, the drinking fashion of the Romans followed the habits of the Greeks. They liked to drink sweet wine and needed to dilute it with water, otherwise it would be considered rude. Because the Greeks believe that wine is a product given by God, only God can drink it pure, while mortals only deserve to drink diluted wine to avoid losing control of their emotions. The bottle sealing of wine also draws lessons from the Greek tradition, using rosin and herbs and so on.
The Roman Republic ruled for nearly 500 years, and everyone lived in peace. I don't know that in 49 BC, a great dictator like Julius Caesar suddenly appeared. He was called the uncrowned king of the Roman Empire by historians and was honored as Caesar the Great! In 42 BC, all citizens of the Roman Empire were awarded the title of Roman, and the territory was unified for the first time in history. His nephew Octavian proclaimed himself emperor in 27 BC and became the first emperor of the Roman Empire! At that time, Rome became the largest city in the world! (Let me worship) During Augusta's reign, northern Italian wines were valued and respected, especially Retico (the predecessor of amaro and Resillot, which became popular so early). And the famous Pucinum (wine made from Glera grapes) produced in Venezia Giulia, friuli. Italy has become the center of wine production and trade, and the roads extending in all directions cover the whole of Europe like a net, which greatly promotes the transportation of wine.
Through the efforts of several Roman emperors, by the year 1 17 (equivalent to the Eastern Han Dynasty in China), the Roman Empire occupied the whole of Western Europe, including Britain, plus most of the territories along the Mediterranean coast of Central Europe, Eastern Europe and North Africa and the Middle East. Such a vast territory is divided into many large administrative regions for control. Where the Romans settled, they brought vines and cultivation and brewing techniques, for example, in Spain, the French Rhone Valley, Burgundy, Bordeaux, mozer and the Rhine Valley.
Coincidentally, history is always surprisingly similar. Just as the Eastern Han Dynasty moved its capital to Luoyang, Constantine also moved its capital to Constantinople in 330 AD, and Rome's political and military status was greatly reduced. In 395, the Roman Empire was divided into two parts: the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire (also known as the Byzantine Empire). West Rome took Milan as its capital, and then moved to Lavaine in the north, while East Rome still took Constantinople as its capital. At the beginning of the 5th century AD, Germanic tribes-Goths and Vandals invaded northern Italy successively, which eventually led to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in 476 AD. The invasion of barbarians caused the economy to collapse, and the wine trade appeared a serious degradation period. .....
The glory of Great Rome is gone forever!
Medium length
"All roads lead to Rome"-All roads lead to Rome. My understanding of this proverb when I was a student was that all roads lead to the same goal, or something like that where there is a will, there is a way. But after reading the history of Italy, I know that its origin is somewhat tragic.
? In the 5th century, the internal affairs of the Western Roman Empire were corrupted, which was seriously threatened by the increasingly powerful Germanic nation. Alaric, the king of Visigoth, always wanted to occupy Rome, but he was defeated by Stirrigio, the general of West Rome. Tirico was a hero who defended the Western Roman Empire, but he was framed by the imperial court. Finally, in 407 AD, the western Roman emperor Honore left an order to behead him. When alaric got the news that Sterico was killed, he looked up at the sky and smiled, "Finally, no one can stop me from going to Rome." When his general asked, "I wonder which way the king intends to go to Rome?"
King Visigoth once said that all roads lead to Rome!
The demise of the Western Roman Empire marked the beginning of the dark period in Europe (6th-65438+3rd century). As the saying goes, the only remaining Eastern Roman Empire is also teetering in the storm. In 568 AD, Lombardy, a branch of Germanic nationality, captured northern Italy, and then occupied most of central and southern Italy. This situation led to the shrinking of the territory of the Eastern Roman Empire, leaving only Veneto, parts of central and southern Italy, Sicily and Sardinia. Around Rome, the principality of Rome was established and controlled by the Pope.
When the Lombards thought they could sit back and relax, Charlemagne, the king of Frank, led an army to defeat the Lombards in 774, and at the same time defended the territory of the Pope. In recognition of Charlemagne's achievements, the Pope crowned him in St Peter's Cathedral and made him the Holy Roman Empire. In fact, Charlemagne himself is a descendant of the Germanic nation, and he saw two Germanic nations fighting with each other. Later, in the 9th century, Arabs invaded southern Italy and ruled Sicily 100 years, until the French Normans defeated the Arabs and Sicily established the kingdom of Sicily, which was under the jurisdiction of the Normans.
The 20th century is a watershed in European history. France, Spain and England entered the monarchy after the pain of reform, but Italy was still divided into many kingdoms, principalities, vassals and small autonomous regions, which changed Italy's fate. Years of war, but bitter Italian wine industry! In the dark ages, even though the production of wine has not been completely terminated, the demand for high-quality wine has been greatly reduced, and because of the war, transporting wine has become quite dangerous. Fortunately, the church continued to plant and brew vines for sacrificial and medical purposes.
During the Italian Renaissance in the14th century, the rising wealthy businessmen began to yearn for better quality wine. The ruling groups in some territories are controlled by aristocratic families, who have great wealth and powerful influence, which is directly related to the fate of the whole autonomous region. The most famous ones are Medici in Florence, Sforza and Visconti in Milan, and Gonzaga in Mandova. The coastal cities Venice, Genoa and Pisa, which rose in the same period, became important trade and military centers, and were called "maritime republics", ranking among the richest and most dynamic cities in Europe. These three cities controlled the Mediterranean trade, including wine trade, and competed with each other until Venice became the first city.
And those important Italian grape varieties, such as Nebiolo, Babela and Calganega, are also recorded in the historical documents of this period for the first time, which once again witnessed the glory of Italian wine history!
Posterior part
After the Renaissance, although Italy has been greatly revived in culture, it is still relatively weak compared with France, Spain and other countries in politics and military affairs. Therefore, France, Spain and other European powers turned Italy into their main battlefield. France occupied Piedmont, while Spain occupied most of the area from north to south. Only the Republic of Venice and the papal state are independent in the areas ruled by Italy.
1492 After the discovery of the American continent, the Mediterranean trade lost its former glory, and Italy began to have an economic crisis. The southern part of Italy is most affected by the economic crisis. The turbulent political situation and shipping far from the Atlantic make Italy relatively isolated and unable to export wine to the Nordic countries. The closed market environment makes the innovation of Italian wine industry relatively backward. When France and Germany began to use corks and glass bottles in the17th century, Italy did not adopt them until the19th century.
/kloc-in the 0/9th century, Italy was reunited. However, different nationalities, cultures, languages and laws in different regions have different economic and social environments. The development of the South still lags far behind that of the North and Central China. In order to meet these severe challenges, the government has implemented many changes. At the same time, some famous Italian wines, such as barolo, Chianti and Brunello di Montaccino, followed the popular styles and recipes of19th century. In some important producing areas, planting and brewing schools have sprung up like mushrooms after rain, such as Conegliano in Veneto, Agricultural Research Institute in San Michel Adige and Piedmont Alba Wine Brewing School.
During World War I, Italy joined the allied forces of France, Britain and Russia. Although it won the war, it further deepened the political and economic crisis of the whole society. After fascism came to power, Italy led by Mussolini joined the German and Japanese camps and launched the Second World War. Although he had little affection for Mussolini, under his rule, a large number of urban municipal constructions emerged in an attempt to revive the prosperity of Rome, and the first Venice Film Festival was launched, which left many achievements for future generations. ). 1946, Italy established the Republic. Only ten years later, the rapid economic and industrial recovery made Italy become one of the most important economies in the world again.