According to written reports, there was already a class of wine merchants in ancient Greece in the third century BC. For them, the job title "oinogeustes" (wine taster) existed because the ability to taste was obviously a prerequisite. In the Middle Ages, the Greek port of Monemvasia on the Peloponnese peninsula was an important transhipment point for sweet wines from the entire Mediterranean region. For centuries, England exerted a great influence on the taste of wine through strong imports, especially from France. As a result, Champagne, Clairet, Port and Sherry became established as wine styles. France has always been one of the main wine suppliers for many countries.
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Egon Mark
Diplom-Sommelier, Weinakademiker und Weinberater, Volders (Österreich)