Age of Enlightenment

The Age of Enlightenment that began in the late 17th century placed confidence in the rational man who would discover scientific and philosophical truths that had eluded classical man.

Despite this new savoir-faire, wine continued to suffer a short shelf life. It lost market share to distilled spirits that would last longer—gin in Holland and Great Britain, vodka in Russia and Poland, rum in the Caribbean and the colonies of the New World. An exception was beer. In Northern Europe it was considered by families as a safe alternative to untreated water, which was generally of suspect quality.

Perhaps this storage problem explains why wine tended to be imbibed in great quantities. It was commonplace for a working man or woman in France and Italy to consume around a gallon of wine a day. The consensus was that large quantities of wine ensured a longer life, bearing in mind the average life span of the time was much shorter than it is today. Use wine as the basis for a fruit punch—think today’s Sangria—and you double the return: wine lasts longer, and fruit adds vitamins. The enlightened man did not buy this argument, however. Wine continued to lose favour with the masses because it simply did not remain fresh or retain its potency.

All that changed when vintners utilized new scientific methods to create wines that had staying power, were dry, and improved with age. A new age in wine production began. An intellectual could now demonstrate cultural sophistication by exploring the subtle nuances of enlightened wine.

THIS WEEK’S PICK
When the summer heat is upon us in all its glory, my go-to beverage is the County Cider Company’s Waupoos Cider. Made from estate-grown apples, some of which are heritage apples, this hard cider will totally refresh—and cool you down—on the hottest day. Although conveniently available at the L.C.B.O., it is much more fun to go to the source and enjoy a cider with a fabulous lunch. For no extra charge, you get the best panoramic view of Lake Ontario.

On a different note, the Devils Wishbone Winery is about to release their latest vintage of Rieslings. It is not to be missed.

Last, but not least, Broken Stone has fewer than 25 cases left of their 2013 Chardonnay. Blink and it will be gone— only a lucky few will boast ownership of this treat in a bottle.