by Fred McMillin
for November 2000

Beaujolais is an example of Archdeacon Rolleston's vine-friendly regions.

108. Out of Eden ...
(The Origin of Wine and Beer)

Prologue

The year is 1750. America's Benjamin Franklin is about to invent the lightning rod. France's King Louis XV is about to invent the asparagus-tip omelette. and England's Archdeacon Samuel Rolleston is publishing a learned treatise that describes the origin of wine and beer. Here are some charming excerpts. (Sometimes "s" is written as "f".)

Origins

Wine - Adam, the firft man, could have no bodily diforder or lownets of fpirits, [so] he would have been content with the water of Paradife. But as want of fpirits (the effect of fin) foon appear'd amongft his defcendants, we cannot fuppofe it was long before he invented a liquor [wine] which would raise them.

Moft learned men affert that Noah was the firft planter of vines and that the ufe of wine was not known before his time. For my own part, I imagine that Noah was taught to make it by fome of the Antediluvians [who] were fwept away by the flood.

Beer -The fame need of refrefhment which caus'd the invention of wine in that part of the world, where man was firft plac'd after he was expell'd out of Eden, did very foon after in other countries produce other liquors, which might have the fame effect. Some foils and climates are unfit for vines, and cannot poffibly bring grapes to perfection. [But] man succeded very well in finding fomething that would chear (sic) their Spirits, beer.

Postscript

I don't like to read a wine article that doesn't recommend a few good wines. Now, Archdeacon Rolleston pointed out that there are areas unsuitable for growing wine vines. So, I'll mention some districts that are very suitable for wine production, and a wine from each that has scored well in recent blind tastings. The highest scorer is listed last.

 
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This page created November 2000