Riches and Romance From France’s Wine Harvest
+ w9 ^; Z+ |, X+ V September is harvest time. And with bunches of grapes swinging (摇摆) in the wind, the vineyards of southern France are getting ready to celebrate it. . m# }* b: K: r% e. c
The yearly wine festival is held in honor of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine. It’s a fun time with parties, music, and dancing, big meals and, of course, lots of wine. ) y* l# C( ^* i" C E, O
French wine-making began more than 2,500 years ago. The world’s oldest type of vine grows in France and always produces a good quality wine. Today France produces one-fifth of the world’s wine, and some of the most famous varieties.
9 `& h+ G+ P1 F' s' M- H The top wine-producing areas are Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Loire Valley.
) _4 ~8 _% i7 ?9 k% M3 [, y Champagne, a drink used in celebrations, is named after the place where sparkling (有汽泡的) wine was first produced in 1700. " g9 X- h7 A3 k h& Y. Q1 a
Wine is made from the juice of freshly picked grapes. It is the sugars that turn into alcohol.
* ` A6 l7 x, u. H; Y Traditionally, people used to take off their shoes and crush the grapes with their bare feet to bring out the juice. Nowadays, this practice is usually carried out by machines.
$ t# x8 v) F/ k Each wine producing region has its own character, based on its type of grapes and soil. $ d1 U6 `7 j$ h
The taste of wine changes with time. Until 1850, all French champagne was sweet.
" z$ H# d. c% K7 d6 B4 p8 V Now, both wine and champagne taste slightly bitter. % L* X2 f$ Q N/ x" g
The drink has always been linked with riches, romance and nobleness. Yet the - a: `6 U5 Y! i3 j& }
French think of it in more ordinary terms.
6 W* z% u# Z! T- ]5 ^5 ? They believe it makes daily living easier, less hurried and with fewer problems. ) `* D- [4 |, j; o* n
"Its entire links are with times when people are at their best; with relaxation, happiness, long slow meals and the free flow of ideas," wrote wine expert Hugh Johnson. ( J$ ~; {' c5 S6 r& g, u# D% |$ w
1 All French people celebrate the grape harvest every September.
' N* B- E. w4 A# Y, ~ A Right
' V8 E1 W, i9 L+ s B Wrong
* Z% G: P- g" Z7 h C Not mentioned |