Wine has been enjoyed by humans for as long as historians
may remember. Martin Luther (1483-1546), credited with initiating the
Protestant Reformation, said this about it: “Beer is made by men, wine by God.”
Not everyone agrees.
Oenophobia is the
fear of wine.
This particular phobia points to a fear or intense dislike
of wine, the fruit of the vine. The word “oenophobia” is derived from the
ancient Greek word “oinos,” which pertains to wine. This aversion may pertain
to drinking wine or even adding it to recipes.
“I cook with wine,” said the American comedian and actor
W.C. Fields (1880-1946). “Sometimes I even add it to the food.” Clearly, Fields
was not oenophobic.
Folks with oenophobia will likely decline Cabernet, pass on Pinot
or Port, shrink from Chablis or Chardonnay, recoil from Riesling, sneer at
Sauvignon Blanc, and zoom from Zinfandel. They may be leery of becoming
inebriated. Perhaps they have certain dietary sensitivities (or migraine
headaches), which may be triggered by indulging in wine. They may be recovering
from alcoholism and abstaining completely as a result. Or they could be strict
teetotalers, opposed to all forms of alcohol.
Simply put, these people will probably jeer, not cheer, at
wine. That’s oenophobia.
Image:
A to Z Blogging Challenge promo logo –
fair use
Graphic adapted from public domain image
Feel free to follow on Google Plus and Twitter. Like this
blog? Check out Practically at Home on Facebook.
No comments:
Post a Comment