The Secret of Wine

Among the living miracles of Mother Nature which resurrect every year in front of the human eye, the vine must be the most interesting of them. After giving its fruit in autumn, the vine sheds its leaves and becomes a bare bush.  It isreborn in the spring with its leaves and flowers, bears its full-bloom grapes, again, towards autumn, then dies once more. What is the secret? Is there no divinity in this? What about the juice of its fruit? Once put in a container, it transforms; it releases bubbles, changes color, it even changes you to a different person for a short time. What’s the secret? Is there no sanctity in this liquor?

Wine (the sacred liquid) comes from the grape, the grape from vines (the sacred plant), sacred vine from earth, “Mother Earth” is sacred and all the productivity and abundance belongs to her. Mother earth, woman, softener, civilizer, abundance … That’s the wine!

Mankind has sometimes shared their love, and sometimes their chalice, with wine. It has been his saviour when drunk in the correct time and place, and has caused trouble when drunk inappropriately. It has opened horizons, flared passions, caused upset at times and disasters at other times. Sometimes it has been perceived as religious. Even wine gods have been created. Christians have accepted wine as “the blood of Jesus Christ, the grace of God” and it has been quoted in the Bible as follows:

 

“Noah Prophet has begun to live in the Mount Agri with his animals after the great flood. One day he realised an extraordinary joyfullness in the goat returning from graze. Afterseeing the same extraordinary joyfullness for a few days, Prophet Noah went after the goat and discovered that the reason is a fruit. He was also addicted to the grape juice, which was very pleasing and made life dreamy. The devil, who saw the Prophet Noah happy, envied his cheerfulness and sent his fiery breath which dried up the vines. Seeing Prophet Noah ill with sorrow, the devil’s heart softened and explianed what to do to revive this fruit. If grape seed is watered with the blood 7 animals, the vine would revive. The seed was watered with the blood of a lion, a tiger, a dog, a bear, a cock, a magpie and a fox, and after a year the plant revived and began blooming with leaves and fruits. “

 

According to the legend, the  character of these seven animals are reflected in the behavior of the man drunk with wine. At times they are brave like a lion, at times ferocious like a tiger, strong as a bear, aggresive like a dog, noisy like a cock, cunning like a fox, and talkative like a magpie.

In the end, one must see the world beautifully. One must look good, speak nice words. After all, one who looks with a beautiful eye sees beauty … one who sees beauty does good! Try to age like a wine, become more beautiful as you get older … and if you need a few aesthetic touches here I am!

 

Ali Rıza Öreroğlu

International Wine & Spirits Academy (IWSA)
WSET Level 1 Award in Wines 2015
WSET Level 2 Award in Wines & Spirits 2016