Culture & Heritage

Wine: a thousand-year history at the heart of the French art of living

Wine is one of the oldest and most symbolic beverages of humankind. Born several thousand years ago, it has crossed civilisations, empires and borders to become far more than a simple drink: a universal language of sharing and celebration. It is this heritage that Pinard.fr wishes to celebrate, by bringing together bottles that tell a story.

For wine is not merely a product: it is a culture, a ritual, a memory of time and place. In France especially, it is woven into the national identity, inseparable from gastronomy, from great tables as well as everyday meals, and from all the moments of conviviality that punctuate life.

The origins of wine: from the Caucasus to the Mediterranean

The oldest known traces of winemaking discovered to date were unearthed in Georgia, in the Caucasus, at the Neolithic sites of Shulaveri Gora and Gadachrili Gora. Dated to around 6000 BCE — nearly 8000 years ago — eight large ceramic jars there bore traces of tartaric acid, the true chemical signature of wine. This discovery, published in 2017, makes Georgia the presumed cradle of wine, ahead of the Zagros Mountains in Iran (around 5400 BCE).

From there, the vine and wine spread across the Mediterranean, carried by the Egyptians, the Phoenicians and then the Greeks. It is precisely to Greek colonists from Phocaea, founders of Massalia (present-day Marseille), that Gaul owes the arrival of the vine: the oldest known vineyard in France, north of Marseille, dates back to the 5th century BCE. The Romans would then extend vine-growing across the entire territory.

France, a land of wine

Over the centuries, France became one of the greatest wine-producing countries in the world. From Bordeaux to Burgundy, from Champagne to the Rhône Valley, from the Loire to Alsace, from Provence to Languedoc, each region has forged its identity around one essential word: terroir. It is this unique alliance of soil, climate, grape variety and know-how that is protected by the system of appellations of origin (AOC / AOP).

Wine is also inseparable from French culinary art, to the point that the "gastronomic meal of the French" is inscribed on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The Climats of the Burgundy vineyards and the Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars are themselves listed as UNESCO World Heritage — a consecration of an exceptional cultural and scenic heritage.

But beyond the great vintages and distinctions, in France wine remains above all a matter of sharing. A glass poured for a friend dropping by, a bottle opened to celebrate, a meal prolonged around the table: wine accompanies reunions, festivities and the simple moments of everyday life.

Did you know? Where does the word "pinard" come from

The word "pinard", a great classic of colloquial French for wine, has a debated origin. The most accepted hypothesis sees it as an alteration of the name of the pinot grape, king of the vineyards of Burgundy, Champagne and Lorraine. First a barracks slang — attested as early as 1886 in the artillery — the term truly took hold in the trenches of the First World War, where wine, distributed as a daily ration, became for the soldiers a precious symbol of comfort and camaraderie. A popular song from 1916 would make it famous for good. Today, "pinard" is used with affection, for the everyday table wine as well as for the greatest of vintages.

Wine, a French art of living

To choose a pinard today is to take part in this long history of terroirs, gestures and generosity. It is this pleasure that Pinard.fr brings within your reach: a selection of red, white, rosé and sparkling wines for every taste and every budget, chosen to reveal the best of the vineyards. All while respecting a golden rule of the French art of living: moderation. Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health.