BONJOUR MES AMIS: 35 Beautiful Vineyards

mercredi 17 septembre 2014

35 Beautiful Vineyards

Wine making is a true art form with practitioners all over the world. The vineyards from which our wines derive are some of the most beautiful landscapes around the globe.

From the Old World vineyards of Europe like Italy and France; to the New World areas of Canada, Argentina, Australia and the United States, vineyards are a sight to behold. Enjoy this selection of gorgeous vineyards around the world!

1. Los Alamos Vineyards, Santa Barbara

2. St. Emilion Vineyards – France

3.Trigny Vineyards – Champagne, France

4. Porrera Vineyards – Priorat County, Catalonia, Spain

What are Vineyards? A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for wine making, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice. The science, practice and study of vineyard production is known as viticulture. A vineyard is often characterized by its terroir, a French term loosely translating as “a sense of place” that refers to the specific geographical and geological characteristics of grapevine plantations, which may be imparted in the wine.

5. Lavaux Vineyards – Switzerland

6. Kunde Estate Vineyards – Sonoma County, California

7. Hermonville Vineyards – France

8. Brunelloa di Montalcino Vineyards – Tuscany, Italy

9. Balf Vineyards – Hungary

10. Margaret River Vineyards – Western Australia

11. Hunawihr Vineyards – Alsace, France

12. Maurice Carrie Vineyards – Temecula, California

13. Baden Wurttemberg Vineyards – Germany

14. Tedo River Vineyards – Douro Valley, Portugal

15. Lake Chelan Vineyards – Washington, United States

16. Mission Vineyards – California, United States

17. Hahndorf Vineyards – Adelaide Hills, South Australia

18. Gold Hill Vineyards – Ticino, Switzerland

History of Wine Making

The earliest evidence of wine production dates from between 6000 and 5000 BC. Wine making technology improved considerably with the ancient Greeks but it wasn’t until the end of the Roman Empire that cultivation techniques as we know them were common throughout Europe.

In medieval Europe the Church was a staunch supporter of wine, which was necessary for the celebration of the Mass. During the lengthy instability of the Middle Ages, the monasteries maintained and developed viticultural practices, having the resources, security, stability and interest in improving the quality of their vines. They owned and tended the best vineyards in Europe and vinum theologium was considered superior to all others.

19. Napa Valley Vineyards – California, United States