According to written reports from the third century BC, there was already a class of wine merchants in ancient Greece. The job title "oinogeustes" (wine taster) existed for them because the ability to taste wine was obviously a prerequisite. In the Middle Ages, the Greek port of Monemvasia on the Peloponnese peninsula was an important transhipment centre for sweet wines from all over the Mediterranean.
The so-called two vineyard belts contain 95% of the world's most important vineyards for the cultivation of quality wine. They lie from 40 to 50 degrees north latitude and from 30 to 40 degrees south latitude.
Cistercians in the Middle Ages
The Roman Catholic order of the Cistercians flourished from the 12th to the 17th century. During this period, around 800 monasteries with many vineyards were established, mainly in France and Germany as well as other parts of Europe. They practised professional viticulture and used their extensive monastery networks to trade and distribute their wine. This enabled them to transport their wine over long distances and sell it at markets throughout Europe. The wine trade contributed significantly to the economic stability and prosperity of the monasteries. They could well be described as the largest wine producers and wine merchants in Europe at the time.
Influence of Great Britain
For several centuries, England and the Kingdom of Great Britain exerted a major influence on the flavour of wine through strong wine imports, particularly from France. As a result, champagne, clairet, port and sherry have established themselves as wine styles....
