Wine is an alcoholic beverage produced by fermenting fruit. Fruit sugar is consumed by yeast, which then releases heat by converting it to ethanol and carbon dioxide. Most typically, grapes are used to make wine; when the word "wine" is used without qualification, it usually refers to grape wine. Nevertheless, a wide range of fruit crops, such as plum, cherry, pomegranate, blueberry, currant, and elderberry, can be used to make wine.
The first indications of wine manufacturing date back to approximately 6000 BC in Georgia and 4000 BC in Sicily. China is said to have the earliest records of fermented alcoholic beverages made of rice, honey, and fruit.
Since the beginning of time, wine has been associated with altered awareness. Greeks and Ancient Romans both worshipped Dionysus, sometimes known as Bacchus. Since Biblical times, Jews have consumed ritual wine, most likely sweet. As part of the eucharist commemorating Jesus's Last Supper, this tradition has become even more important to the Christian Church.
Due to European expansion, wine production and consumption rose, peaking in the 15th century. Despite the catastrophic phylloxera plague outbreak in 1887, science and technology have advanced to the point that industrial wine production and broad consumption are commonplace worldwide.
The consensus in wine is that a wine should taste better the older the vintage. Take a look at this list after knowing the history.
Top Ten Oldest Exquisite Wine To Exist
Speyer Wine Bottle 325-350 AD
The Speyer wine bottle is thought to be the world's oldest wine bottle. This historic bottle, displayed at the Pfalz Historical Museum in Germany, is about 1,700 years old. It was discovered in a Roman couple's tomb in 1867. Out of the sixteen bottles, this was the only one still whole since it had been sealed with wax and filled with olive oil to keep the wine fresh. It has no price tag as it is never actioned.
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grand Cru 1945
Currently, the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold is Domaine de la Romanée - Conti 1945. It was sold at a Sotheby's auction in New York in 2018 for an astonishing 46,374,000 INR. The 1945 vintage comprised just 600 bottles, and currently, relatively few remain. It's hailed as "the vintage unicorn." Burgundy wines from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti's vineyards are known for being of the greatest calibre.
Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992
2000 saw the exquisite Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 go for 41,500,000 INR at a Napa Valley, California, charity wine auction. This Napa Cabernet boasts an opaque purple colour and a lovely blackberry flavour with mint, vanilla, and toasted wood notes. 60% new wood is used to mature the wine before it is bottled unfiltered and unfined. Among cult California wines, Screaming Eagle is highly regarded.
Jeroboam of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1945
One of the most esteemed wines produced in Nathaniel Rothschild's vineyards is Jeroboam of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1945. Among the greatest vintages produced in the past 100 years is thought to be 1945. This bottle's label features a "V," representing the Allies' victory in the Second World War. The wine smells luxuriously of mint, vanilla, and baking spices and tastes elegantly of blackberries and wood. It was auctioned at 25,807,100 INR.
Cheval Blanc 1947
Many believe the 1947 Cheval Blanc is the greatest Bordeaux ever produced. 2010 saw it go for 25,257,375 INR at a Christie's auction in Geneva to a private collector. Due to the extraordinary weather experienced by the vines in 1947, this vintage has a thick structure and will never be equalled. The wine smells beautifully of vanilla, oak, and earth and tastes elegantly of plum and blackberry.
Château Lafite 1869
In 2010, three bottles of Chateau Lafite 1869, a rare vintage wine, fetched 19,090,000 INR at a Hong Kong Sotheby's auction. The bottles were expected to fetch 6,69,748 INR apiece at auction, but to the astonishment of the auctioneers, the offer for this highly sought-after premium wine went up to 1,92,55,266 INR. An Asian bidder who wished to remain anonymous purchased all three bottles.
Chateau Margaux 1787
The third US president, Thomas Jefferson, is well-known for his initials on the bottle of Chateau Margaux 1787. Sadly, a server knocked over the wine, shattering the bottle so it could never be consumed or sold. It was the most expensive bottle that had never been sold then, with some valuing it at almost 18,675,000 INR.
Ampoule from Penfolds
Australia's Penfolds 2004 Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon is a limited edition, costing a bottle 13,944,000 INR. The ampoules containing Cabernet Sauvignon are housed in a glass container that requires cutting the end to open. A winemaker will accompany the buyer in opening the Cabernet Sauvignon ampoule to ensure proper opening. Direct from a winery, the most expensive wines are Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon ampoules.
Château Lafite Rothschild 1787
Another bottle with the letters "Th. J." believed to belong to Thomas Jefferson was the Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1787 bottle. It was found in a Parisian cellar some 200 years later, and in 1985, Christie's of London held an auction. At 13,000,350 INR, this vintage is among the priciest wine bottles ever sold.
Henri Jayer, Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux 1999
The 1999 Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux, made by renowned French winemaker Henri Jayer, brought 11,368,615 INR at a Christie's Hong Kong wine auction. It's hard to determine if the wine's improved standing is due to Henri Jayer's fame or its superior quality. However, the wine is studded with traces of juicy red fruits, minerals, and spices and has an overall rich and robust structure.