Whether or not you’re an avid historian it’s a fact that there’s something special about understanding the history behind the food, drinks or wear — which includes wine. Looking back at how the whole thing began can spur your imagination and help you put things into perspective. Making the connection between the very first wine grape to your latest bottle of wine gives a greater depth to your experience and will give you a greater appreciation and a sense of pleasure.
We’ll take you on a journey through wine’s history, from its origin (hint: it’s not France) and the various ways that different cultures have utilized it throughout history.
When and Where Did Winemaking Begin?
It’s obvious that Spain, Italy, France and France are all associated with winemaking. France, however, is home to some of the most sought-after appellations of wine in the world (a.k.a. Bordeaux which is the “wine capital” of the world ) and is one example of these regions. France is also home to the top wines and grape varietals on the planet, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot Chardonnay and Chardonnay, Champagne and Pinot Noir.
But the history of wine doesn’t begin with French wine (or Italian or Spanish wine). Records from archaeology suggest that wine was first made in China around 7000 B.C., followed by Armenia and Georgia between 6100 and 6000 B.C., respectively.
In reality, researchers have found the world’s oldest winery (and the oldest shoe in the world!) in Armenia. There are also evidences of the early practice of making wine in Iran, Egypt, Israel, Greece, Cypress, and Sicily. Clearly, there’s much more to wine than you may have thought.
Ancient World Wine vs. Old World Wine. vs. New World Wine
It’s useful to be able to speak in a few words when discussing the history of wine. These terms are more about geography than anything else.
Ancient World Wine
As we’ve mentioned before, the most well-known wine regions not where the wine’s origins began. The wine regions of the pastincluding China, Armenia and Iran along with Egypt were the places the first regions where winemakers from the world devised methods for fermentation of grape juice into alcohol.
Old World Wine
Old World wine is a result of traditional wine regions throughout Europe and the Mediterranean and the Middle East, which is the place where viniculture (wine growing) was born and developed. The Old World wine production is made using the common grapevine, also commonly referred to as Vitis vinifera. This grape is native to the Mediterranean region.
New World Wine
New World wine comes from just about any other region that isn’t considered to be ancient or old. For example, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, and Canada are New World wine regions. Also, there are some wine regions in the United States. The most well-known wine-producing states are Washington, Oregon, California.
Old World wine production also uses the Vitis vinifera wine grape, however different adjustments have been developed to assist it flourish in these different climates.
of Wine Timeline of Wine Timeline
It doesn’t matter if it was thousands of years ago or just a couple of days ago, the development of any type of wine begins its journey with the grapes being harvested then pressed and fermented. The process of fermentation is the most important component, since it is the process that transforms pressed grapes (or grape juice) into wine.
We’re not able of describing every development and discovery within the rich wine history. But we can share some of the best hits. Here’s a quick overview of the world’s wine journeys and the various ways that different cultures have made and consumed it through the centuries.
7000 B.C.
Dr. Patrick McGovern is a prominent wine scientist and an anthropologist. He believes that the first chemically verified alcoholic beverage, including wine, was discovered in Jiahu, in the Henan Province in China.
The Early Neolithic Period saw clay jars used to make and store fermented beverages made from wild grapes, rice, honey and hawthorn fruits. McGovern and his colleagues discovered that fruit with sugar and yeast on their skins were fermented by keeping them in these jars.
It isn’t known if the grapes were consumed alone or in conjunction with other fruits. There is evidence that suggests these alcohol drinks were consumed during burial and religious ceremonies.
6100 B.C.
In 2016, a team of researchers discovered the oldest winery on earth, located in an underground cave in the mountains of Armenia. The most notable finds in the cave was a drinking bowl and cup, a grape press, and fermentation Jars. The cave also revealed that the grapes used in making wine were Vitis vinifera. It is the same kind of grape used in many wines today. As such, researchers deduce that the final product would likely be similar to an unfiltered red wine that tastes similar to Merlot.
Although wine consumption began in China The discovery of this wine is the first evidence of the complete production of wine. The experts believe that Armenian wines were used in burial ceremonies because of its significance in the past as a cemetery.
3100 B.C.
An earlier version of wine made from red grapes was produced in the early years of Egypt. The wine was stored in amphoras clay jars, which have a a narrow neck with two handles.
The present-day Egypt is not renowned for its wine-making capabilities, however it has a long and rich tradition of winemaking and drinking. Images carved on tomb walls depict people picking grapes from the vine, squashing them and putting them in amphoras for fermentation.
Because red wine resembled blood, ancient Egyptians had many superstitions about its power, including its connection to the blood of Osiris who was the god of resurrection. The archaeological evidence suggests that the ancient wine was utilized in various ceremonies (including burials) as well as for medicinal purposes.
While red wine was the most commonly used kind of wine made in this region, amphoras discovered in Tutankhamun’s tomb show the first proof of white wine in Egypt.
1200 B.C.-539 B.C.
The Phoenicians are responsible for the beginning of the wine trade, making this beverage increasingly popular (and even grapevines) across the Mediterranean, including Greece, Italy, and the areas of modern-day Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, and Syria.
During their travels, the Phoenicians came into contact with Jewish people, who started making use of wine in 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.
Because of the Phoenicians The ancient Greeks started drinking wine and using wine as a symbol for religion, trade, and health. Wine was so adored in Ancient Greece that they even gave a god the name of: Dionysus. Wicker baskets were filled with freshly picked grapes and then crushed prior to placing them in pithoi -large earthenware jars akin to Egyptian amphoras. These jars were the places where fermentation was conducted.
As Greek city-states began to spread across the Mediterranean, so too did the production of wine. The Greeks as well as the Phoenicians, used to transport grapevines. They introduced Vitis vinifera grapes to other colonies, which included Sicily. Then, they traveled to Rome.
200 B.C.-100 B.C.
The Romans, imitating the Greeks invented their own god of wine, namely Bacchus. (It’s where we get the term “bacchanalian,” meaning drunken revelry.)
The Romans refined the Greek’s method of viniculture by using barrels and other techniques that helped them produce more at a quicker rate and at a lower cost. Roman wine production used the torculum (wine pressing) to crush grapes and then separated the juice from the skins using colanders similar to. The juice could be heated before fermentation in amphoras which were dug in sand, dirt, or even in water.
Drinking wine was a part of everyday life for Romans as well, and unlike pharaohs of Egypt and the Egyptian pharaohs, this “drink of gods” was easily accessible for both the wealthy and the poor. But, most people were drinking a selection of cheap wines, including mustum (mixed in vinegar) as well as mulsum (sweetened with honey], and lora (“bitter wine made from grape leftovers after pressing) among the few.
As the Roman empire grew across Europe, they planted grapevines in European nations, which included modern-day France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and Portugal.
A.D. 306-380
The Roman Empire’s reign of Constantine, A.D. 306-337 and the rise of Christianity and the Catholic Church. In turn, wine took a prominent place in religious ceremonies, especially during the sacrament Eucharist (also known as communion). This custom is used in Catholic masses to celebrate the last meal between Jesus Christ and his apostles. The wine is a symbol of Jesus’ blood. Jesus.
Many churches in the Christian tradition still practice drinking wine or the symbolism associated with it. While grape juice is used as a substitute but it’s not an extremely popular alternative. This is another instance of wine’s lasting influence on humanity, not just to enjoy social interaction but also for spiritual practice.
1492-1600s
We all know the old phrase: “In 1492 Columbus sailed across the ocean blue.” When Christopher Columbus first set sail from Spain on one of four expeditions, he and his crew stumbled upon the Americas. While his “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.
The 16th century saw transatlantic travel witnessed Spanish conquistadors invading Mexico and Brazil, bringing with them European wine cultivation. The production of wine grew across South America during this period.
Spanish missionaries established Chile’s first winery (not surprising considering wine was crucial to the Catholic Church of the time). They also visited Argentina and established the first wineries in Mendoza.
1769-1830s
In the 18th century, Spanish missionary Junipero Serra traveled to San Diego, California, which was where he founded the state’s first mission and first vineyard. While the friar and his monks created missions across and across the state and continued to plant the Mission grape, which was a cultivar of Vitis vinifera from Spain.
This grape was used in the making of four types of wine including a sweet white wine, which fermented the juice without skins and a dry red wine, that fermented the juice with skins left on; and, finally, a sweet fortified wine.
The Spanish colonizers founded Sonoma’s first winery in 1805 and the Mission grape was the sole grape variety that was produced in California up to the 1830s. Others European colonists added a variety of European varieties to their vineyards after that.
1830s
James Busby, a Scottish-born, British raised, Australian-based writer and viticulturist, began a new era in winegrowing in Oceania. After a lot of research and travel across the continent between Australia and Europe Busby took grapevine cuttings from Europe and established vineyards across Australia.
In the end, he brought some of these cuttings from Australia to New Zealand, and in 1836, he founded New Zealand’s first vineyard. Nearly 200 years later his descendants continue to flourish throughout New Zealand and Australia’s vineyards. This is not surprising since he’s thought to be the father of Australia’s wine industry.
From the 1980s to the Present
This is the end of our tour through wine history in China by returning to the very beginning. When the Chinese economy began to expand in the late 1980s, the nation grew into one of the largest consumers and producers of wine. Rice wine is still the most popular alcoholic drink in China, which is a tribute to its historical origins. However, grape wine has gained popularity and been preferred.
However, the overall amount of wine produced in China has dropped dramatically in recent years. Although there is no obvious reason behind the decline, many experts think that the decline could be caused by adverse growing conditions and the decline in interest locally-produced wine as well as the influx of wine from more renowned wine regions.
No matter how this story goes on, it’s evident that wine is here to stay. In fact, the only continent on the planet that does not have vineyards is Antarctica.
Your Wine Has A Story
Knowing the background of wine’s production and use will help you appreciate wine. Wine isn’t just made out of grapes. It’s a history lesson that you can enjoy every time you take a sip.
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