“[L]e vin a ete le sang de Montepellier; c’est de lui que la ville a vecu; c’est son cours qui donne sa temperature et qui reflete tres exactement sa sante” : Prices for the Wine of Montpellier 1636-1656

“Cours du vin a Montpellier, per annuid.” From Album des vins de France. 1939. [1]

I strongly enjoy the graphical representation of data that is in any way related to wine.  The chart featured in this post plots, in three dimensions, the price of the wines of Montepellier during the 17th century.  There were vineyards throughout Montepellier which produced more than enough wine for the inhabitants.  Following a low period of pricing in 1642, religious and civil wars cause the wine prices to rise beginning in 1649.  Apparently, due to currency “manipulation” fears, winemakers stopped selling their wine thus reducing supply which drove up price.

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[1] “Cours du vin a Montpellier, per annuid.” Une Page De L’histoire du Vin de Montpellier. Album des vins de France. 1937.  Bibliothèque nationale de France. URL: http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb33237022r