Chapter 9
During this period, we experience an important change in the socio-political paradigm, as Roman structures give way to a typically feudal system. Christianity, which governed the Middle Ages, would have an influence on the fate of wine. We paint a portrait of the Middle Ages, which we often consider darker than it actually was. Of course, ecclesiastical expansion is a highlight, but in these pages we give importance to peasant viticulture, often forgotten in other wine history books. Charlemagne’s reforms help us to understand the winemaking reality of the late eighth century.
We visit Paris to experience the wine trade in a time of resurgence, explore the banquets of feudal lords, and delve into wine’s relationship with Islam.
