It’s no secret that wine is a special thing regardless of whether or not you’re a historian. It’s a great way to spark your imagination and help put things in perspective when you think about the history behind. The relationship between the first wine grapes that was discovered and the bottle you are currently drinking wine adds depth, and lets you take in the wine with more appreciation.
We’ll take you on a trip through the history of wine, starting beginning with its first ancestors (hint that it’s not France) and the various ways that different cultures have utilized wine over the years.
Which year was it and when began winemaking?
It’s evident that Spain, Italy, France and France are all associated with winemaking. France however, is one of the sought-after appellations of wine in the world (a.k.a. Bordeaux The “wine capital” of the world ) and is an example of these wine regions. France is also home to the top wines and varieties in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot Chardonnay and Chardonnay, Champagne and Pinot Noir.
The story of wine did not start with French wine, nor Italian or Spanish wine. Evidence from archaeology suggests that wine was made in China about 7700 B.C. Then, it was made in Armenia and Georgia between 6100 and 600 B.C.
Researchers have found the world’s oldest winery (and it is also the oldest shoe ever made!) in Armenia. The evidence of winemaking in the Middle East in the past, Egypt, Israel and Greece is also available. There’s a lot more to wine than you might believe.
Ancient World Wine vs. Old World Wine. vs. New World Wine
It is helpful to communicate in just a few words when talking about the history of wine. These terms refer to geography more rather than anything else.
Ancient World Wine
The most well-known wine regions of today aren’t from the place where wine originated as we’ve already discussed. These wine regions from the past -including China, Armenia and Iran and Egypt were the places the first regions where winemakers from the world came up with methods of making alcohol from grape juice.
Old World Wine
The Old World is made of the traditional regions in Europe and the Mediterranean and the Middle East. This is the place where viniculture (wine-growing) began to gain momentum. Vitis vinifera is the most common grapevine that is used in the Old World wine making. The grape originates from the Mediterranean region.
New World Wine
New World wines can be produced from any region that isn’t ancient or old. New World wine regions include Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Additionally, there is some wine regions in the United States. The most known wine producing states include Washington, Oregon, California.
The Vitis vinifera grape is also utilized for Old World wine making, however various modifications have been developed to ensure that it thrives in the various climates.
Timeline of the History of Wine
It doesn’t matter if the event occurred hundreds of years ago or just a couple of days in the past. The story of every wine begins with grapes being harvested, then pressed and then fermented. Since this is the way that the grape juice (or grape juice) transforms into wine, it is essential that the process of fermentation is finished.
We’re not able to detail every development and discovery of wine’s long and rich time. We’ll share the top wines that have been a hit. This is a brief summary of the world’s wine travels and the different ways that cultures have made wine and consumed it over the ages.
7000 B.C.
Dr. Patrick McGovern is a renowned wine scientist and an anthropologist. He believes that the first scientifically verified alcohol-based beverage, which included wine, was discovered at Jiahu located within the Henan Province in China.
The Early Neolithic Period saw clay containers used to create and store fermented beverages that were made of wild grapes, hawthorn, honey, rice and fruits. McGovern and his colleagues discovered that fruit with sugar and yeast on their skins were fermented after placing them in these containers.
It’s not known if the grapes were consumed as a single drink or together. There is evidence that suggests these alcohol beverages were consumed in funeral and religious ceremonies.
6100 B.C.
Researchers discovered the oldest winery on the world in an Armenian cave mountains in the year 2016. The many discoveries discovered in the cave was a cup, drinking vessel, a press for grapes as well as fermentation vessels. The cave also revealed that the grapes used in making wine were Vitis vinifera. It is the same grape variety that is used in the majority of wine today. The researchers concluded that the final product will likely be similar to a Merlot-flavored , unfiltered red wine.
While wine drinking was first introduced in China This discovery is the start of the wine industry. The experts believe that Armenian wines were used for burial ceremonies due to its significance in the past as an ancient cemetery.
3100 B.C.
A earliest version of red grapes was produced in the early years of Egypt. Amphoras were clay jars which featured a neck that was narrow and two handles. This was the way the wine of the past was stored.
The present-day Egypt is not well-known for its wine production , but it has a long tradition of winemaking and drinking. The ancient tombs depicted people collecting grapes, squashing them, and placing them in amphoras to allow to ferment.
Red wine was similar to blood. The ancient Egyptians believed that it was connected to Osiris, the god who breathed life, as well as other beliefs. The evidence from archeological excavations shows that wine from the past was utilized for ritual and medicinal reasons.
The red wine was by far the most well-known kind of wine made in the region, however amphoras discovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb suggest that white wine is now an actual fact.
1200 B.C.-539 B.C.
The Phoenicians were the ones responsible for the development of the trade in wine as well as the transportation of this ever well-known drink (and grapevines) across the Mediterranean.
The Phoenicians encountered Jewish people on their journeys. They started using wine for rituals of worship. The Bible mentions wine for the first time in Genesis. It is the time when Noah consumes it following his Great Flood.
800 B.C.
The Phoenicians assisted the ancient Greeks to begin drinking wine and to use it as a symbol for trade, religion and health. Ancient Greece loved wine so that they called Dionysus in honor of it. The grapes were crushed into wicker baskets prior to being put into pithoi, huge earthenware jars that resemble like Egyptian amphoras. The jars were the place the place where fermentation occurred.
The production of wine increased as Greek city-states grew throughout the Mediterranean. The Greeks as well as the Phoenicians, would transport grapevines. They brought Vitis vinifera grapes to other colonies, which included Sicily. Then, they traveled to Rome.
200 B.C.-100 B.C.
The Romans mimicking the Greeks they created their own god of wine, namely Bacchus. This is how we got the word “bacchanalian” meaning drunken celebration.
The Romans improved the Greek method of viniculture making use of barrels and other techniques which allowed the production of more wine quickly and with lower cost. Roman wine production utilized the torculum (wine pressing) to crush grapes, and then separate the juice from the skins with colanders similar to. In some cases, the juice was heated before it was fermented in amphoras that were usually placed in dirt, sand or even water.
Romans consumed wine throughout the day. It was not the case with the Egyptian Pharaohs. But, most people consumed a range of cheap wines, including mustum (mixed in vinegar) and mulsum, sweetened by honey], and the lora (“bitter wine made of grape remnants left over after pressing) to mention just some.
The Roman Empire was a major factor in the growth of Europe and the Romans planted grapevines throughout Europe including modern-day France.
A.D. 306-380
The Roman Empire’s rule of Constantine, A.D. 306-337 was the time of the growth of Christianity and the Catholic Church. Wine was also a prominent part of the religious ceremonies, particularly in the sacrament of Eucharist which is also known as communion. The custom is practiced in Catholic Mass to mark the last supper of Jesus Christ and his apostles. The wine is a symbol of Jesus’ blood. Jesus.
A lot of churches in the Christian religion still practice wine, or the symbolic meaning of it. While grape juice is used in place of wine but it’s not a common substitute. This is another instance of the lasting impact wine has on the world, not only for social pleasure, but also to help in 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 voyage. While the “discovery of the New World” was not an absolute success, it was the beginning of a new period of exploration and the colonization in North and South America.
Transatlantic travels witnessed Spanish conquistadors invading Mexico and Brazil during the 16th century. They brought along European wine-growing. The production of wine grew across South America during this period.
Spanish missionaries established Chile’s first winery (not surprising given that wine was an vital to the Catholic Church of the time). They also traveled to Argentina and established the first wineries in Mendoza.
1769-1830s
The 18th century’s late Spanish missionary Junipero Serra visited San Diego, California where he established the first mission in California. The friar and his fellow monks continued to cultivate Mission grapes, which is a Spanish variety of Vitis vinifera, and constructed missions across the state.
The grape was used to create four kinds of wine that included sweet white wine that fermented the juice with no skins and a dry red wine that fermented the juice while skins were on; and lastly, a sweet , fortified.
Spanish colonizers established Sonoma’s first winery, in the year 1805. The Mission grape was the only grape variety that could be cultivated in California until the 1830s. Others European colonists added a variety of European grape varieties to their vineyards following that.
1830s
James Busby, a Scottish-born, British raised, Australian-based writer and viticulturist, began an era of winemaking that was new in Oceania. Through extensive research and travel across the continent across Australia, Europe, and Asia, he gathered grapevine stems from Europe to establish vineyards across Australia.
He later brought certain cuttings of Australia and brought them to New Zealand and established New Zealand’s first vineyard in 1836. More than 200 years later, his descendants continue to flourish throughout New Zealand and Australia’s vineyards. This is not surprising since he’s believed to be the founder of the Australian wine industry.
From the 1980s to the Present
The journey will conclude with the history of wine in China by returning to the very beginning. China became one of the biggest wine consumers and producers around the globe when the Chinese economy began to grow in the late 1980s. Rice wine remains the most popular alcoholic drink in China, which is a reference to its long-standing origins. However the grape wine has gained popularity and is now the most sought-after.
In recent times, however the overall production of Chinese wine has been declining substantially. While there isn’t a clear reason behind the decline, many experts think that the drop may be due to adverse growing conditions and the decline in enthusiasm for locally produced wine and the increasing flow of wines from other famous wine regions.
No matter how long this tale goes on wine will be around. Antarctica is the only continent on which there aren’t any vineyards.
Your wine tells an origin story to tell
Knowing the background of wine’s production and usage will help you appreciate wine. Wine isn’t just made by grapes. Every sip of wine is an opportunity to learn from the past.
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