Why do people treat wine as a marker of civilization, sophistication?

It seems that wine is revered somehow and taken to be a mark of culture and sophistication when drank. Is it because of its history? Culture surrounding it? Surely not because of some intrinsic value; any two bits will buy you a bottle of Merlot these days.

My wild theory Read more

Wine???????

I recently purchased a vineyard in southern France.

I possess no knowledge of the measurement of time taken to grow, harvest the grapes and conseuquently wine.

If someone could educate me on the process i would be very much obliged.