Bottoms Up! A History of Wine, Its Rituals and Its Vessels

About the event

This light-hearted talk examines the history of wine, an elixir that has sustained much of humanity for almost 10,000 years. Essentially little more than fermented grape juice, this extraordinary and contradictory liquid has caused wars and riots, has helped broker peace and more commonly, served as an aphrodisiac. It has been personified in the form of Gods and been the principal catalyst in civilised entertaining and dining rituals.  Wine is based on ethanol, a potent alcoholic poison and depressant. Yet, when consumed in moderation, its effects are liberating, euphoric and positively beneficial to our physical health. What do we do when we drink too much and feel bad the following morning? Swallow another glass of it to make us feel better!  Bottom’s Up! traces the story of wine: from its humble beginnings in rotting grapes before the Bronze Age to the present when single bottles can change hands thousands, even hundreds of thousands of pounds. It examines the extraordinary diversity of paintings and artefacts, including drinking vessels, created by some of history’s greatest artists and craftsmen to enhance the pleasure of wine, and to impress guests.  The talk visits the ancient societies of Egypt, Greece and Rome, travels through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and 18th century Britain. It culminates in the present day, when more wine is being consumed than ever before, with its world market now worth over £100 billion.

About the Lecturer

Andy McConnell has dealt in antiques since adolescence, but served an apprenticeship in journalism. After working in music, film and television, he returned to writing in 2004 as the author of the acclaimed tome The Decanter, An Illustrated History of Glass From 1650. He followed this in 2006 with Miller's' 20th Century Glass. He has written for journals as diverse as The Times and Glass Circle News and ran Britain's largest antique and vintage glass gallery in Rye, Sussex. He is best known as the glass specialist on BBC's evergreen Antiques Roadshow.

Awards, Qualifications & Memberships:

Author of three books, 'The Decanter, An Illustrated History of Glass from 1650', [2004]; '20th Century Glass', [2006]; 'The Decanter, Ancient to Modern', [2018].

Freeman of the City of London, [2011].

BBC Antiques Roadshow glass specialist since 2005.

Lecturer at the United Nations, Geneva, [2022]

This event is free to members.

Visitors are welcome to join us - £7 on the door.