Ancient winemakers believed that wine was alive. It breathed, grew, changed, sulked, and rejoiced. So they treated it like a guest.
When the first barrel of a new vintage was opened, the winemaker touched it with his palm and whispered, “Wake up.” They believed wine could hear voices and remember the hands that shaped it. If the winemaker worked in a bad mood, the wine could “grow sad” and turn dull. If he worked with love, the wine became generous and warm.
Even today, long after technology replaced magic, small rituals remain. Some winemakers light a candle in the cellar to “calm the spirit of the wine.” Others never whistle near the barrels — so as not to “disturb” the yeast. And some simply believe that wine is a story that must be told gently.
Perhaps that’s why a good glass of wine sometimes feels warmer than a drink — almost like a companion.