A Curious and Captivating History of Wine

It’s no secret that wine is special regardless of whether or not you’re a historian. Looking back at how the whole thing began can inspire your mind and help put things in the proper perspective. The connection between the first wine grape that was discovered and the bottle you are currently drinking wine adds depth and allows you to appreciate the wine with greater appreciation.
We’ll take you on a tour of the history of wine, starting beginning with its first ancestors (hint: not France) through how different cultures have utilized it throughout history.

Which year and in which year was the first winemaking event?

It’s obvious that Spain, Italy, France and France are all connected to winemaking. It’s France which has the claim to the most famous appellations for wine (a.k.a. Bordeaux The “wine capital” of the world ), is one of these regions. France also has the best wines and varieties in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot Chardonnay and Chardonnay, Champagne and Pinot Noir.

The story of wine did not begin with French wine, nor Italian or Spanish wine. Archaeological records indicate that wine was first made in China around 7000 B.C., followed by Armenia and Georgia from around 6100 to 6000 B.C., respectively.

Researchers have discovered the world’s oldest winery (and world’s oldest shoe!) in Armenia. Evidence of winemaking from the Middle East of the past, Egypt, Israel and Greece is also available. Clearly, there’s much more to wine than you have believed.
Ancient World Wine vs. Old World Wine vs. New World Wine

In discussing the background of wine, it’s helpful to understand a few phrases that are particularly relevant to “Ancient World” wines, “Old World” wines as well as “New World” wines. In the main, these wine terms refer to geography.

Ancient World Wine

As mentioned, today’s most well-known wine regions not where the wine’s origins began. The wine regions of the pastincluding China, Armenia and Iran, as well as Egypt were the places the first places where winemakers around the world developed methods for making alcohol from grape juice.

Old World Wine

The Old World is made of wine grown in traditional regions of Europe as well as the Mediterranean and Middle East. This is where viniculture (wine-growing) began to take off. The Old World wine production is made using a common grapevine called Vitis vinifera. This grape is native to the Mediterranean region.

New World Wine

New World wines can be produced from any region that isn’t old or ancient. For instance, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, and Canada are New World wine regions. Of course, there’s also the United States, with California, Oregon, and Washington being the most well-known wine producing states.

The Vitis vinifera grape is also used for Old World wine making, however several modifications have been developed to ensure that it can thrive in the various climates.

Timeline of the History of Wine

Whether it was thousands of years ago or just a couple of days ago, the development of all wine starts with the grapes being harvested, pressed, and fermented. The process of fermentation is the most important part, as this is the process that transforms grapes that have been pressed (or grape juice) into wine.

Since there’s a long history of wine There’s no way that we could go over every single winery and discovery or process. We’ll only share the most memorable wineries. Here’s a brief overview of wine’s global travels and the different ways that cultures have made wine and consumed it over the ages.

7000 B.C.

Dr. Patrick McGovern is a prominent wine scientist and anthropologist. He asserts that the first chemically validated alcohol beverage, including wine, was discovered at Jiahu located within the Henan Province of China.

The Early Neolithic Period saw clay containers used to create and store fermented drinks that were made of wild grapes, rice, honey and hawthorn fruits. McGovern and his team found that the storage of sugary fruit with yeast on its skins inside these vessels demonstrates how the liquid was fermented.

It’s not been established whether the grapes were consumed by alone or in conjunction with other fruit. There is evidence that suggests these alcohol drinks were consumed during funeral and religious ceremonies.

6100 B.C.

In 2016, a group of researchers discovered the oldest winery on earth in the cave that is located in the mountains of Armenia. The many discoveries made in this cave was a cup, drinking vessel, as well as a grape press as well as fermentation vessels. The cave also revealed that the grapes used to make wine were Vitis vinifera. This is the same kind of grape used in many wine today. Therefore, the researchers conclude that the product would likely be similar to unfiltered red wine that tastes like Merlot.

The first wine-drinking was in China The discovery of this wine is the first evidence of the complete production of wine. Experts believe that the wine that was discovered in Armenia was probably used in funeral ceremonies since the cave in question was a significant cemetery site.

3100 B.C.

The ancient Egypt began making wine as a precursor made from red grapes. Amphoras were clay jars which had a narrow neck and two handles. This was how ancient wine was kept.

Although modern-day Egypt has very little wine production, its history is deeply rooted in winemaking (and wine drinking). Ancient tomb walls depict people taking grapes, squashing them, and placing them in amphoras to allow to ferment.

Red wine was similar to blood. The ancient Egyptians believed it could be linked to Osiris the god who gave life, and other superstitions. Evidence from archaeology suggests that wine from the past was used for various ceremonies (including burials) in addition to for medicinal reasons.

Red wine was the most sought-after type of wine produced in this area, but amphoras found in Tutankhamun’s tomb show that white wine is real.

1200 B.C.-539 B.C.

The Phoenicians were the ones responsible for the establishment of the trade in wine, as well as the transportation of this ever popular drink (and grapevines) across the Mediterranean.

The Phoenicians met Jewish people during their travels. They started using wine during ceremonies of religious significance. The Bible mentions wine for the first time in Genesis. This is when Noah drinks it following the Great Flood.
800 B.C.

The Phoenicians were the first Greeks to begin drinking wine and to use it as a symbol of trade, religion and health. Ancient Greece loved wine so it was named Dionysus in honor of it. Wicker baskets were filled gathered grapes that were then crushed before placing them into pithoilarge earthenware jars akin to Egyptian amphoras. The jars were the place the place where fermentation occurred.

As Greek city-states started to expand throughout the Mediterranean, so too did the production of wine. The Greeks, like the Phoenicians, used to transport grapevines. They introduced Vitis vinifera grapes into new colonies, which included Sicily. Finally, they arrived in Rome.

200 B.C.-100 B.C.

Imitating the Greeks In a similar fashion to the Greeks, the Romans invented their own god of wine: Bacchus. This is how we have the term “bacchanalian” that means drunken revelry.

The Romans developed the Greek process of viniculture by making use of barrels and other techniques which allowed them to grow more at a faster pace and at lower costs. For example, Roman wine production included the use of a torculum (wine press) to crush the grapes and separating the grape juice from the skins by using a colander-like object. The juice could be boiling before being fermented into amphoras that were usually covered with dirt, sand or even water.

Romans drank wine every day. It was not the case for the Egyptian pharaohs. However, the majority of people were drinking a selection of cheap wines, including mustum (mixed in vinegar) as well as mulsum (sweetened with honey], and the lora (“bitter wine made from grape leftovers after pressing) to mention just a few.

The Roman Empire grew throughout Europe and planted grapevines throughout Europe which included the present-day France.

A.D. 306-380

In the time of Constantine the Great (A.D. 306-337) The Catholic Church as well as Christianity was the main force of religion in the Roman Empire. Wine was also prominent in religious rituals, especially in the sacrament of Eucharist or communion. This is a custom used in Catholic Mass to mark the last meal between Jesus Christ and his apostles. The wine is a symbol of the blood of Jesus.

The practice of using wine, or at least the symbolism of wine is part of many congregations across the Christian faith. (Although grape juice is often used as a substitute for.) This is yet another illustration of the long-lasting influence wine has played on mankind not just for pleasure on the social level however, it has also been used for spiritual practices.

1492-1600s

We’ve all heard the phrase: “In 1492 Columbus sailed across the ocean blue.” Christopher Columbus and his four crew embarked from Spain to explore the Americas while on their first expedition. Although the “discovery of the New World” was not an unqualified accomplishment, it was the beginning of an era of exploration and colonization in North and South America.

Transatlantic travels witnessed Spanish conquistadors occupy Mexico and Brazil during the 16th century. They brought along European cultivation of grapes. Wine production expanded across South America during this period.

Spanish missionaries set up the first winery in Chile (not surprising since wine was the mainstay of the Catholic Church by then). They also visited Argentina where they set up the first wineries in Mendoza.

1769-1830s

In the late 18th century Spanish missionary Junipero Serra traveled to San Diego, California, which was where he founded the state’s first mission and first recognized vineyard. While the friar and his fellow monks developed missions up and down the state and continued to plant the Mission grape, which is a variety of Vitis vinifera that originated from Spain.

This grape was used in the making of four varieties of wine including sweet white wine which fermented juices without skins and a dry red wine that fermented the juice with skins on; and finally, a sweet fortified.

Spanish colonizers established Sonoma’s first winery in the year 1805. The Mission grape was the only variety of grape that could be cultivated in California from 1805 until 1830. Following that the other European colonists in Los Angeles added several European grape varieties to their vineyards.

1830s

In the 19th century’s early years, Scottish-born, British-raised, and an Australian-based viticulturist and author James Busby triggered the dawn of a new period for wine production in the geographic region of Oceania. After extensive research and cross-continental travel between Australia and Europe, he took grapevine cuttings from Europe and planted vineyards in Australia.

He eventually took some of the cuttings from Australia and brought them to New Zealand and established New Zealand’s first vineyard in 1836. More than 200 years later, the descendants of his original cuttings still thrive in vineyards throughout Australia and New Zealand. It’s no wonder that he’s regarded as the founder of the Australian wine industry.

From the 1980s to the Present

In a full circle moment and we’ll end our walk through the past of wine back where we started: in China. When the Chinese economy began to expand in the latter half of the 1980s China became one of the largest producers and consumers of wine. Although rice wine remains the most popular alcoholic beverage in the country that harkens back to its earliest roots , the wine grapes have gained status and preference.

In recent times, however, China’s overall wine production has decreased significantly. There’s no clear reason as to why this has happened However, some experts suggest the drop could be due to unfavorable growing conditions, waning interest in locally produced wine, and the increase in imports from wine regions that are more well-known.

However this tale continues, it’s clear that wine will be around for the long haul. Antarctica is the only continent where there are no vineyards.

Your wine is a part of an underlying story to tell

Understanding the history of wine’s production and usage can help you enjoy wine. From the first winery hidden in Armenia to the Phoenicians’ worldwide influence of winemaking to the cultural and spiritual aspects of wine within the Greco-Roman culture and beyond wine is so much more than just fermented wine in the glass. It’s a lesson in history that you can savor every time you take a sip.