The History of Wine in 100 Bottles (English edition) From Bacchus to Bordeaux and Beyond by Oz Clarke

The History of Wine in 100 Bottles by Oz Clarke is a fascinating work that takes us through the history of wine via a selection of 100 bottles that have marked its evolution. Since its origins in ancient Mesopotamia, wine has always been more than just a beverage. It has accompanied major social, cultural, religious, and economic transformations over the centuries.

Through this work, Oz Clarke presents bottles that have played a key role in the history of wine. You will discover how the transition from the goatskin to the German barrels of the Ratskeller, and then to the invention of the glass bottle, transformed wine preservation. He also explores the evolution of bottle shapes, from the short onion-shaped bottles of the 1720s to the slender cylindrical bottles of the 1780s, and why regions like Bordeaux and Burgundy adopted distinctive shapes.

The history of corks, from the first corked bottles to screw caps, as well as recent innovations like bag-in-box, cans, and cartons, is also discussed. Oz Clarke reveals fascinating anecdotes about the first wine labels, once glue was strong enough, as well as about the artworks commissioned by iconic 20th-century artists for high-end wine labels.

Unique and historically significant bottles are not left out: the oldest unopened bottle, the most expensive sold at auction, the rarest… Wines from the oldest vineyards still in production, from the driest or highest places, as well as from the northernmost and southernmost vineyards on the globe, are also highlighted.

In this book, Oz Clarke pays tribute to the people who have influenced the evolution of wine over the centuries. From the Cistercian monks of Burgundy, who were the first to consider terroir as an essential element of a wine’s identity, to scientists like Pasteur and Peynaud, who improved key technical aspects of winemaking, to 20th-century giants such as Robert Mondavi and Robert Parker Jr..

The author also discusses famous vintages, from the Rüdesheimer Apostelwein of 1727 to the first Sauvignon Blanc from Montana Marlborough in 1979, not forgetting today's cult wines from Bordeaux and California.

With more than 200 photographs and illustrations, this work is a visual tribute to the rich and complex history of wine. Each bottle tells a story of innovations and discoveries that have shaped the world of wine as we know it today.

Features:

• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 224 pages
• More than 200 photographs and illustrations
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Collection: Pavilion
• ISBN: 9781909815490
• Publication date: May 7, 2015
• Weight: 820g
• Dimensions: 232 x 185 mm
• Language: English