A History of Wine

In a comprehensive synthesis spanning from ancient times to the present day, Didier Nourrisson, a historian specializing in food and gastronomy, presents a lively and colorful history of wine. More than just a fermented product derived from grapes, wine is a revealer of society and its time. It weaves the bonds between people, reconstructs a social marker, an economic, cultural, and more recently, public health issue. Following an approach based on the consumer's perspective rather than the producer's, as would be more traditional, Didier Nourrisson traces the changes in customs and the modifications of wine itself: because ancient wine and its consumption methods have nothing to do with modern wine. Through his history of wine, Didier Nourrisson sheds light on a historical field that is still relatively unexplored with an engaging pen.