Imperial Wine

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A fascinating exploration of the colonial roots of the global wine industry, this work presents a bold history of Britain’s pivotal role in shaping the wine industries of Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. Historian Jennifer Regan-Lefebvre bridges global commodity history and imperial history, offering provocative research in an engaging narrative. It argues that the global wine industry emerged from settler colonialism, with imperialism being central to viticulture in British colonies. Wineries were established shortly after colonization as part of a civilizing mission, with tidy vines symbolizing Britain's dominance over foreign lands. Nineteenth-century settler winemakers prioritized the British market, yet British consumers were largely indifferent to what they called "colonial wine." A shift occurred post-World War I, as colonial wines were marketed as affordable and patriotic, gaining traction among middle- and working-class drinkers. Social and cultural changes after World War II further contributed to this trend, paving the way for the New World revolution in the 1980s, transforming Britain into a significant market for wine. While New World producers gained acclaim in the late twentieth century, this work reveals their long history of cultivating a British market for colonial wines. This narrative is sure to intrigue those interested in the complex stories behind the wine commodity chain.