Who wants a history lesson about wine? (1 Viewer)

[Ahsoka]

I was just talking about this with others and decided I'd share a lesson about how even when everything's going wrong, sometimes it turns out fine in the end. Also apologies for any errors, it's been a good while since I read this book.

So the lesson begins in 1860 or so. Wine was having a merry jolly time in Europe. Until it wasn't. Plants started dying due to phylloxera, a bug that was killing European varieties, which many considered "more desirable" for winemaking due to the taste. By the 1900s, over 70% of France's vines were dead. It wasn't a solely European problem, but at the time European vines, at least in Europe, were considered more desirable for winemaking purposes. They eventually realized they could graft the roots of American grape varieties to the tops of European grape varieties, and that would solve the problem (Northeast American varieties in general were immune to the bug. The bug had originated in the area).

Then in the 1920s, prohibition became a thing. While it was only the US, it did mean less people drinking wine which isn't generally great if you want people to by your wine. While it wasn't prohibition level in Europe there was also some talk in the 1900s about whether wine is truly healthy. Historically certain Europeans did drink on average a lot of wine (they could rival me with lemonade ) but there were some people beginning to think there are actual real health detriments, which to be fair there are. Not good if you're selling wine for people to not want to buy as much wine though again.

WW1 and WW2 also were a thing. Other than the wine parties they had or pretended to have, they also had less people who were available to work on fields and many vineyards were destroyed of course. Also not a good thing.

Might have been more that I'm forgetting but this is a nice list of things to go wrong. But wines still a thing, maybe not as popular as previously for the average person, even in Europe, but it exists. I actually thought about this stuff because I was talking about oranges who are also having a major disease that's killing them off and lading to high prices for juice. Hopefully that'll be saved too because I really like orange juice

 

[Horizonshard]

Bananas as we know them are also disappearing. Soon it may be hard to find them, unless food scientists can find another way to breed bananas.

 

[Ahsoka]

Bananas as we know them are also disappearing. Soon it may be hard to find them, unless food scientists can find another way to breed bananas.

Yeah but bananas aren’t that great compared to grapes and oranges

 

[Horizonshard]

Yeah but bananas aren’t that great compared to grapes and oranges

Grapes, I will agree with.

However bananas are vastly superior to oranges in all ways and measures.

 

[Ahsoka]

Grapes, I will agree with.

However bananas are vastly superior to oranges in all ways and measures.

I’ll just assume you’ve never had a properly good orange

 

[Horizonshard]

I’ll just assume you’ve never had a properly good orange

They're messier, harder to peel, less usable in baked goods, much more acidic. The only thing better is that they can make juice.

Oh and better used as a weapon, since they're round and can be thrown at people.

 

[Ahsoka]

They're messier, harder to peel, less usable in baked goods, much more acidic. The only thing better is that they can make juice.

Oh and better used as a weapon, since they're round and can be thrown at people.

But the taste is better by far Some aren’t too bad to peel. And you can cut them if you want it to be easier that bad.

 

[Horizonshard]

But the taste is better by far Some aren’t too bad to peel. And you can cut them if you want it to be easier that bad.

Too much effort! Pass me my easy breakfast banana snack!!!

 

[Ahsoka]

Too much effort! Pass me my easy breakfast banana snack!!!

So bakings no problem but making 2-3 cuts is too much?

 

[Horizonshard]

So bakings no problem but making 2-3 cuts is too much?

Oh, I don't do the baking. Just the eating.

 

[Yelena_Belova]

Yeah but bananas aren’t that great compared to grapes and oranges

Facts! Grapes aren’t that great though, just oranges.