Why is it that only grapes are heavily used for wine-making, but not other fruits?

[worlddivides]

Okay, everyone has their own opinion. As I said previously in another message, I understand that you want to use this more enlarged definition, although for me it is wrong (and for you I am wrong ) but that is because it was what I was taught in my years of study and at a professional level by credible sources, but opinions change a lot even due to geographical and cultural reasons.

In any case, and although I was the one who brought this topic here, I think it is more relevant to focus on the initial issue (because on this we can debate as much as we want and I don't think either side will change their opinion) a Since this has a lot of possible debate. Regardless of everything, I already left my answer to the initial question in a message above, if you want to return to this topic I think it would be more advantageous but if you want to stay with me that's fine, especially because I was actually the one who "introduced" it.

We don't "want" to use this more enlarged definition. It's not a matter of opinion. This is a matter of right and wrong. My job is in linguistics and regardless of whether you want to come from a "descriptionist" perspective (describing how language is actually used - in which case, and it might be different in other languages, but in English, wine is not limited to grapes) or a "prescriptionist" perspective (describing how dictionaries and so on say language should be used - which also says that wine is used for an alcoholic beverage made by any fruit, such as Merriam-Webster, Oxford, etc.), you are wrong. So you shouldn't change your "opinion." You should correct your incorrect definition.

 

[Rish]

When I was a kid, my parents skrimped and saved to buy a Britannica Encyclopedia set, mainly for my brothers and me to use. I have a lot of respect for and confidence in this source. Here's what I found from Britannica (my emphasis) on this question. I'm good with it but from what I've read here, some won't be.RDWHAHB(or wine)
*********""
wine, the fermented juice of the grape. Of the grape genus Vitis, one species, V. vinifera (often erroneously called the European grape), is used almost exclusively. Beverages produced from V. labrusca, the native American grape, and from other grape species are also considered wines. When other fruits are fermented to produce a kind of wine, the name of the fruit is included, as in the terms peach wine and blackberry wine.

 

[Graham H]

wine, the fermented juice of the grape. Of the grape genus Vitis, one species, V. vinifera (often erroneously called the European grape), is used almost exclusively. Beverages produced from V. labrusca, the native American grape, and from other grape species are also considered wines. When other fruits are fermented to produce a kind of wine, the name of the fruit is included, as in the terms peach wine and blackberry wine.

Hmmm… I find it a bit odd that their definition of a “non-wine” (not made from grapes) is described as “a kind of wine,” and not “similar to wine,” or “substitute for wine.” I think the folks at Britannica could have been a bit clearer in their choice of wording.

 

[worlddivides]

Hmmm… I find it a bit odd that their definition of a “non-wine” (not made from grapes) is described as “a kind of wine,” and not “similar to wine,” or “substitute for wine.” I think the folks at Britannica could have been a bit clearer in their choice of wording.

But it is wine, but just a different "kind of wine." The way it works is that because grapes are the most common kind of wine, saying "wine" without a qualifier specifies that it is made from grapes, while adding a qualifier specifies that it's made from that substance.

I do think that Wikipedia's wine article is actually clearer than Encyclopedia Britannica (ironic too since I got a set of them as a kid and Wikipedia is edited by regular users):
"Wine is an alcoholic drink made from fermented fruit. Yeast consumes the sugar in the fruit and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide, releasing heat in the process. Wine is most often made from grapes, and the term "wine" generally refers to grape wine when used without any qualification. Even so, wine can be made from a variety of fruit crops, including plum, cherry, pomegranate, blueberry, currant, and elderberry."

Though on that subject, the fact that wines made from fruits other than grapes are called "wine" alone should settle the matter even without looking at dictionaries or encyclopedias:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit_wine

 

[mashdar]

And tomato is a fruit. QED!

 

[worlddivides]

And tomato is a fruit. QED!

Indeed.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/foods/...s the same,both varieties resemble white wine.

 

[Johnny2]

If we get back to the original question, I would just simply suggest that grapes do it better than any other fruit. I do blackberries, blueberries, cranberry, and peach. They are all good, but the grape is by far the easiest and the best all around.
I can’t look at this and not get excited:

View attachment 854644
My friend calls me over and tells me, “I have what I wanted; you can have the rest.” …and I find this!

What kind of grapes are those?

 

[mashdar]

Why is a topic about wine in the beginner beer brewing section.

Barley wine? : D

 

[Johnny2]

Barley wine? : D

Barley wine has as much to do with wine as ginger beer with beer.

 

[Lampy]

I see parallels to the contention over nut "milk" in this discussion; though I think calling any fermented fruit beverage "X wine" makes more sense than calling any white, opaque fluid "X milk".

 

[bernardsmith]

Where grapes grew, wine was made from grapes. Where other fruits were available, wine was made from those fruits. Grapes are easy to ferment but are hellish to grow and cultivate. Stone fruit is easier to grow and berries take care of themselves. Country wines have been made for hundreds if not thousands of years BY and FOR peasants and workers. Grape wines were made by 'the church" FOR the aristocracy and the rich and powerful. So, we are not so much talking about the meaning of wine here, but about social class politics. Those who control wealth, control language. I make wine from lemons, from raspberries, from dandelions, from elderflowers, mulberries, from grapes and from honey. You are free to refuse to drink or call what I make "wine", but I am free to label what I make as wine, noting that Stephen Harrod Buhner is just as free to call ALL and ANY fermented liquids "beers" (Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers: The Secrets of Ancient Fermentation (1998)

 

[brewSJ]

That’s silly. Italian peasants [my ancestors] have made homemade grape wine for centuries. Wine was only a luxury product in places like England where grapes didn’t grow. Go to southern Europe, though, and it’s still cheaper than bottled water.

 

[jdauria]

That’s silly. Italian peasants [my ancestors] have made homemade grape wine for centuries. Wine was only a luxury product in places like England where grapes didn’t grow. Go to southern Europe, though, and it’s still cheaper than bottled water.

Exactly! You're not Italian unless you know someone who always had jugs of homemade wine tucked into a closet in the house! Not just our Italian ancestors but my father and his 8 brothers all had homemade wine in their homes growing up in CT and they were not buying wine making kits back in 60's and 70's...they were growing their own grapes and picking wild ones too.

 

[Cammanron]

Because, then it wouldn't be wine.... wine is made from grapes.... you want to ferment another fruit? Great! But it wouldn't be wine.

 

[worlddivides]

Why is it that only barley is used for beer, but not other grains? Why don't beers use wheat, oats, rye, corn, or rice? Why is it? Hm?

(SARCASM)

 

[bwible]

Thats why

 

[day_trippr]

 

[An Ankoù]

Wine comes from the same word root as vine so we have vin and vino etc.
"vine fruit" drink is not the only alcoholic drink from fruit. Cider comes a word meaning strong drink.
Where vines grow or a cultivated the fruit is easy to collect. Compare an hour's picking grapes with an hour's picking blackberries!
Moreover, a suitable yeast for clean fermentation occurs naturally on grapes and on apples. It's not surprising that champagne yeast and cider yeast are very closely related. It means that, unlike other fruit, the juice of the decomposing fruit is somewhat protected from other yeasts and produces a pleasant drink. I'm not sure to what extent these yeasts are naturally associated with other fruits.
Wine was spread more widely in Europe by the Romans who planted vineyards as far north as southern England, although I don't think they made it to America and Australia; that was done by later waves of immigration in much the same way as "pilsner" has spread from its native Bohemia.

Personally, I find grape wine a bit underwhelming. I'd much rather drink my blackberry/elderberry blend.