“Wine is bottled poetry” and other quotes about wine

The love for a good wine, being it a fine natural red or a bottle of fresh white, dates back centuries and centuries and thanks to its presence in the glass of writers, artists, thinkers and intellectuals, it often was there when the cultural and artistic history of entire humanity was made. Therefore it is not a surprise to find out that many famous characters wrote or spoke about it, leaving many quotes about wine as a testimony of their love for a good glass. After all, as Robert Louis Stevenson said, “Wine is bottled poetry“.

Famous quotes about wine

As we said, wine is one of humanity’s favourite drinks from centuries, to not say thousands of years. The passion for a good glass seems to start with the classical times, as no less than Euripides and Plinius the Elder (yes, the one who saw the Vesuvius’ eruption and the destruction of Pompeii) among the others, left famous quotes about it:

“Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words.”
– Plautus

“In wine there’s the truth.”
– Plinius the Elder

“Where there is no wine there is no love.”
– Euripides

“Wine can of their wits the wise beguile, Make the sage frolic, and the serious smile.”
– Homer

“Good character is not formed in a week or a month. It is created little by little, day by day. Protracted and patient effort is needed to develop good character.”
– Heraclitus

The parallel between the ageing of wine and the ageing of man is a most loved topic among intellectual, as the philosopher Bacon writes:

“Age appears to be best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.”
– Francis Bacon

Wine seems to be the perfect companion for deep and poetic thoughts also:

“Wine makes a man more pleased with himself; I do not say it makes him more pleasing to others.”
– Samuel Johnson

“In victory you deserve Champagne. In defeat, you need it.”
– Napoleon Bonaparte

“Wine is sunlight, held together by water”
– Galileo Galilei

From the Art world comes a quote that surely fine wine tasters and sommeliers will love:

“He who knows how to taste does not drink wine but savours secrets”
– Salvador Dalì

Finally, Shakespeare couldn’t be missing; among others, we remember what he wrote in “As you like it”:

“I pray you, do not fall in love with me, for I am falser than vows made in wine.”
– William Shakespeare

Wine: a source of quotes and thoughts

Maybe wine deepens people and helps them having great thoughts, or maybe it is just the perfect companion for artists and writers. What is for sure is that many great minds and characters had a deep relationship with their glass of wine: the many quotes we can read about wine are the result, and here we collected just a few of our favourites.

Wine: not just a drink, but a true passion and inspiration from centuries.

“Here’s to wine, wit and wisdom.
Wine enough to sharpen wit,
Wit enough to give zest to wine,
Wisdom enough to “shut down” at the right time.”
– Anonymous