Wino Word of the Day - Viticulture

Viticulture: A field of horticulture that incorporates growing, producing and studying grapes. This word should not be confused with viniculture, which describes when the grapes are used for winemaking.

The first form of viticulture is believed to date back to the Neolithic period ("New Stone Age") when evidence of true farming existed. Thucydides (c. 460 BC – c. 395 BC), the Greek philosopher, wrote "The people of the Mediterranean began to emerge from barbarism when they learnt to cultivate the olive and the vine." In the Middle Ages, Catholic Monks were the most common viticulturists and even developed the first cru vineyards-- taking large pieces of land and solely producing wine from them. Today, viticulturists work very closely with winemakers because grape characteristics are ultimately what define the wine.