The Pursuer in Alcohol

The French term sommelier derives from the old provincial saumalier, which translates as "pursuer", who was in charge of the supply wagons. This ancient status persisted in the court of Louis IV a century later. Not only did kings drink wine, but they donated land and founded vineyards to monastic organizations. This is the beginning of the period of the vineyards of the abbeys.

The Middle Ages saw the discovery of the best terroirs and the establishment of the stories of renowned places. Burgundy is home to the Clos de Voujout vineyard, followed by Pinot Noir vineyards throughout the region. The British are exposed to Bordeaux clarets and Tuscan reds from Tuscany. A hermit knight established a vineyard destined to become a famous appellation on the top of the Hermitage hill in the Rhone valley. Rhenish Riesling became popular in the Middle Ages and Chianti was introduced.

The first wines of the New World

The period of the Great Geography marks the beginning of the division of the world into the Old and New World. European wines were introduced in Mexico, Brazil and Chile in the 16th century, followed by Russia a century later.

Distillation, which was previously only used for the manufacture of medicines, begins to be used for the manufacture of liqueurs. Rum is made from sugar collected in the colonies; in Europe, brandy and gin have become popular. The practice of adding alcohol to wine seems to have arisen to preserve it during its long sea voyage.

America and Europe

From the beginning of the 19th century to the present day - the pioneers of biodynamics. World viticulture and associated traditions thrive: appellations, standards, the renowned Bordeaux classification and a legendary Barolo have been established. Wine is relegated to the realm of luxury.

At the turn of the 19th century,

Europe was devastated by the phylloxera pandemic, a disease brought from the New World that wiped out most of Europe's ancient vineyards in just a few years.

Only vines that grow on sandy soils survive: in certain volcanic and coastal regions, as well as in Chile and the United States of America.

It was a long story

How does alcohol gets financed: Crowdfunding for wine

Crowdfunding and Wine

What does this even mean?

Crowdfunding has existed for more than a decade as a mechanism for private financial support for social and cultural initiatives. It allows companies to raise capital from potential customers by selling them a product upfront, giving them exclusive access to copyrighted material, or simply transferring copyright-free content.

Many platforms got involved

Online presence

Along with well-known crowdfunding platforms like kickstarter.com, which raise funds for everything from music albums to animal shelters, there are also niche ones. For example, on the winefunding.com platform, you can launch your fundraiser to build the winery of your dreams, and contribute to the purchase of seven hectares of biodynamic vineyards in Graves. Currently, the site only features French projects. Typically, sponsors receive sets of wines, but you can also become a full co-investor and receive a share of the project!

Evolving culture of winemaking

Progress and scaling

The winemaking appears to be conventional. The wine industry is constantly innovating, whether it is new methods to prevent wine defects or natural methods for pest control. We have compiled a list of wine trends that are gaining traction globally right now.