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

[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.