Secret of Wine

Written by Victoria Baker
Thursday, 12 November 2009 01:00

“Music is the wine which inspires one to new generative processes. I am Bacchus who presses out this glorious wine for mankind and makes them spiritually drunken,” said Ludwig van Beethoven.

Beethoven wasn’t the only one to relate creativity to wine. Indeed, wine has always been an integral part of Greco-Roman culture and continues to have an impact on society to this very day.

Wine enthusiasts may find great pleasure in the upcoming Beaujolais Wine Tasting hosted by chef Jean Louis. Le Wine Shop and Le Gourmet Store of Greenwich invite you to a tasting of the 2009 vintage Beaujolais Nouveau. The price is $48 per person unless you are an Alliance Française member; then it is $10 in advance and $15 at the door. The event will take place on Thursday, Nov. 19, from 5 to 8 at 41 Elm St. For more information, visit Afgreenwich.org.

Wine in ancient Greece was praised and immortalized by poets, historians and artists. Ordinary citizens did not consume wine; it was considered a privilege of the upper classes. Wealthy Greeks even invented a popular wine tossing game that consisted of throwing the last few mouthfuls of wine from a guest’s cup into the air. The object was to hit a delicately balanced dish on a pole with the wine.

During the time of the Roman Empire, wine became available to the common citizens. Some cities even built bars on almost every street. The Romans believed that flavoring was important; they added such flavors as fermented fish sauce, garlic and onion. They went so far as to classify their wines by regions, and wine snobs in ancient Rome advised the emperors as to which wines would best complement their foods.

Thomas Jefferson was convinced that the lack of fine wines in America was driving his fellow citizens to drink too much hard liquor. This idea carried on after his death and influenced the way Americans viewed wine. Ohio was the first region to successfully grow grapes until California became the reigning queen of American wine.

Like all of chef Jean Louis’ endeavors, the upcoming Beaujolais Wine Tasting promises to be a journey of epicurean discovery and delight. He understands well that wine, whether it is drunk for immediate intoxication, for civilized pleasure or as a lofty enjoyment of the palate, has fascinated humankind for hundreds of years. What is the secret of this drink? Perhaps it has something to do with our human longing to escape our bodily confines, to explore the beyond and to enjoy humanity — pleasures, frailties, dangers, weaknesses and all. Perhaps the exact secret of wine is one we were not meant to uncover.

Victoria Baker of Greenwich is an opera singer. She teaches piano and voice privately in Greenwich. Questions, call 531-7499 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .