Archaeological evidence has established the earliest known production of wine fr

om fermented grapes during the late Neolithic site of Hajji Firuz in the norther
n Iran Zagros Mountains or early Chalcolithic site in the northern edge of the M
iddle East.[13] The earliest chemically attested grape wine was discovered at Ha
jji Firuz in the northwestern Zagros Mountains dating back to 5400 BC. Both arch
aeological and genetic evidence suggest that the earliest production of wine may
slightly predate this: with the earliest wine-making likely having taken place
in Trans-Caucasia (including Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia), through the West
Asian region between Eastern Turkey, and Northwest Iran.[14][15]
The earliest evidence of a grape-based fermented drink was found in Georgia: whe
re wine residue inside ceramic jars dates from 6000 BC,[3][16][17] and in Iran,
from 5000 BC.[5] The earliest evidence of a wine production facility is the Aren
i-1 winery in Armenia and is at least 6100 years old;[18] presumably, wine had s
tarted being produced much earlier.[7][8][19]
Detail of a relief of the eastern stairs of the Apadana, Persepolis, depicting A
rmenians bringing an amphora, probably of wine, to the king.
A 2003 report by archaeologists indicates a possibility that grapes were mixed w
ith rice to produce mixed fermented beverages in China in the early years of the
seventh millennium BC. Pottery jars from the Neolithic site of Jiahu, Henan, co
ntained traces of tartaric acid and other organic compounds commonly found in wi
ne. However, other fruits indigenous to the region, such as hawthorn, cannot be
ruled out.[20][21] If these beverages, which seem to be the precursors of rice w
ine, included grapes rather than other fruits, they would have been any of the s
everal dozen indigenous wild species in China, rather than Vitis vinifera, which
was introduced there 6000 years later.[20]
The spread of wine culture westwards was most probably due to the Phoenicians wh
o spread outward from a base of city-states along the Lebanese, Syrian, and Isra
eli coasts.[22] The wines of Byblos were exported to Egypt during the Old Kingdo
m and then throughout the Mediterranean. Evidence includes two Phoenician shipwr
ecks from 750 BC discovered by Robert Ballard, whose cargo of wine was still int
act.[23] As the first great traders in wine (cherem), the Phoenicians seem to ha
ve protected it from oxidation with a layer of olive oil, followed by a seal of
pinewood and resin, similar to retsina.
Georgian Kvevri ancient wine vessel
The earliest remains of Apadana Palace in Persepolis dating back to 515 BC inclu
de carvings depicting soldiers from Achaemenid Empire subject nations bringing g
ifts to the Achaemenid king, among them Armenians bringing their famous wine.
Literary references to wine are abundant in Homer (8th century BC, but possibly
relating earlier compositions), Alkman (7th century BC), and others. In ancient
Egypt, six of 36 wine amphoras were found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun bearin
g the name "Kha'y", a royal chief vintner. Five of these amphoras were designate
d as originating from the king's personal estate, with the sixth from the estate
of the royal house of Aten.[24] Traces of wine have also been found in central
Asian Xinjiang in modern-day China, dating from the second and first millennia B
C.[25]
Wine boy at a symposium
Pressing wine after the harvest; Tacuinum Sanitatis, 14th century
The first known mention of grape-based wines in India is from the late 4th-centu
ry BC writings of Chanakya, the chief minister of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya. I
n his writings, Chanakya condemns the use of alcohol while chronicling the emper
or and his court's frequent indulgence of a style of wine known as madhu.[26]
The ancient Romans planted vineyards near garrison towns so wine could be produc
ed locally rather than shipped over long distances. Some of these areas are now
world-renowned for wine production.[27] The Romans discovered that burning sulfu
r candles inside empty wine vessels kept them fresh and free from a vinegar smel
l.[28] In medieval Europe, the Roman Catholic Church supported wine because the
clergy required it for the Mass. Monks in France made wine for years, aging it i
n caves.[29] An old English recipe that survived in various forms until the 19th
century calls for refining white wine from bastard bad or tainted bastardo wine
Archaeological evidence has established the earliest known production of wine fr
om fermented grapes during the late Neolithic site of Hajji Firuz in the norther
n Iran Zagros Mountains or early Chalcolithic site in the northern edge of the M
iddle East.[13] The earliest chemically attested grape wine was discovered at Ha
jji Firuz in the northwestern Zagros Mountains dating back to 5400 BC. Both arch
aeological and genetic evidence suggest that the earliest production of wine may
slightly predate this: with the earliest wine-making likely having taken place
in Trans-Caucasia (including Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia), through the West
Asian region between Eastern Turkey, and Northwest Iran.[14][15]
The earliest evidence of a grape-based fermented drink was found in Georgia: whe
re wine residue inside ceramic jars dates from 6000 BC,[3][16][17] and in Iran,
from 5000 BC.[5] The earliest evidence of a wine production facility is the Aren
i-1 winery in Armenia and is at least 6100 years old;[18] presumably, wine had s
tarted being produced much earlier.[7][8][19]
Detail of a relief of the eastern stairs of the Apadana, Persepolis, depicting A
rmenians bringing an amphora, probably of wine, to the king.
A 2003 report by archaeologists indicates a possibility that grapes were mixed w
ith rice to produce mixed fermented beverages in China in the early years of the
seventh millennium BC. Pottery jars from the Neolithic site of Jiahu, Henan, co
ntained traces of tartaric acid and other organic compounds commonly found in wi
ne. However, other fruits indigenous to the region, such as hawthorn, cannot be
ruled out.[20][21] If these beverages, which seem to be the precursors of rice w
ine, included grapes rather than other fruits, they would have been any of the s
everal dozen indigenous wild species in China, rather than Vitis vinifera, which
was introduced there 6000 years later.[20]
The spread of wine culture westwards was most probably due to the Phoenicians wh
o spread outward from a base of city-states along the Lebanese, Syrian, and Isra
eli coasts.[22] The wines of Byblos were exported to Egypt during the Old Kingdo
m and then throughout the Mediterranean. Evidence includes two Phoenician shipwr
ecks from 750 BC discovered by Robert Ballard, whose cargo of wine was still int
act.[23] As the first great traders in wine (cherem), the Phoenicians seem to ha
ve protected it from oxidation with a layer of olive oil, followed by a seal of
pinewood and resin, similar to retsina.
Georgian Kvevri ancient wine vessel
The earliest remains of Apadana Palace in Persepolis dating back to 515 BC inclu
de carvings depicting soldiers from Achaemenid Empire subject nations bringing g
ifts to the Achaemenid king, among them Armenians bringing their famous wine.
Literary references to wine are abundant in Homer (8th century BC, but possibly
relating earlier compositions), Alkman (7th century BC), and others. In ancient
Egypt, six of 36 wine amphoras were found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun bearin
g the name "Kha'y", a royal chief vintner. Five of these amphoras were designate
d as originating from the king's personal estate, with the sixth from the estate
of the royal house of Aten.[24] Traces of wine have also been found in central
Asian Xinjiang in modern-day China, dating from the second and first millennia B
C.[25]
Wine boy at a symposium
Pressing wine after the harvest; Tacuinum Sanitatis, 14th century
The first known mention of grape-based wines in India is from the late 4th-centu
ry BC writings of Chanakya, the chief minister of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya. I
n his writings, Chanakya condemns the use of alcohol while chronicling the emper
or and his court's frequent indulgence of a style of wine known as madhu.[26]
The ancient Romans planted vineyards near garrison towns so wine could be produc
ed locally rather than shipped over long distances. Some of these areas are now
world-renowned for wine production.[27] The Romans discovered that burning sulfu
r candles inside empty wine vessels kept them fresh and free from a vinegar smel
l.[28] In medieval Europe, the Roman Catholic Church supported wine because the
clergy required it for the Mass. Monks in France made wine for years, aging it i
n caves.[29] An old English recipe that survived in various forms until the 19th
century calls for refining white wine from bastard bad or tainted bastardo wine
Archaeological evidence has established the earliest known production of wine fr
om fermented grapes during the late Neolithic site of Hajji Firuz in the norther
n Iran Zagros Mountains or early Chalcolithic site in the northern edge of the M
iddle East.[13] The earliest chemically attested grape wine was discovered at Ha
jji Firuz in the northwestern Zagros Mountains dating back to 5400 BC. Both arch
aeological and genetic evidence suggest that the earliest production of wine may
slightly predate this: with the earliest wine-making likely having taken place
in Trans-Caucasia (including Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia), through the West
Asian region between Eastern Turkey, and Northwest Iran.[14][15]
The earliest evidence of a grape-based fermented drink was found in Georgia: whe
re wine residue inside ceramic jars dates from 6000 BC,[3][16][17] and in Iran,
from 5000 BC.[5] The earliest evidence of a wine production facility is the Aren
i-1 winery in Armenia and is at least 6100 years old;[18] presumably, wine had s
tarted being produced much earlier.[7][8][19]
Detail of a relief of the eastern stairs of the Apadana, Persepolis, depicting A
rmenians bringing an amphora, probably of wine, to the king.
A 2003 report by archaeologists indicates a possibility that grapes were mixed w
ith rice to produce mixed fermented beverages in China in the early years of the
seventh millennium BC. Pottery jars from the Neolithic site of Jiahu, Henan, co
ntained traces of tartaric acid and other organic compounds commonly found in wi
ne. However, other fruits indigenous to the region, such as hawthorn, cannot be
ruled out.[20][21] If these beverages, which seem to be the precursors of rice w
ine, included grapes rather than other fruits, they would have been any of the s
everal dozen indigenous wild species in China, rather than Vitis vinifera, which
was introduced there 6000 years later.[20]
The spread of wine culture westwards was most probably due to the Phoenicians wh
o spread outward from a base of city-states along the Lebanese, Syrian, and Isra
eli coasts.[22] The wines of Byblos were exported to Egypt during the Old Kingdo
m and then throughout the Mediterranean. Evidence includes two Phoenician shipwr
ecks from 750 BC discovered by Robert Ballard, whose cargo of wine was still int
act.[23] As the first great traders in wine (cherem), the Phoenicians seem to ha
ve protected it from oxidation with a layer of olive oil, followed by a seal of
pinewood and resin, similar to retsina.
Georgian Kvevri ancient wine vessel
The earliest remains of Apadana Palace in Persepolis dating back to 515 BC inclu
de carvings depicting soldiers from Achaemenid Empire subject nations bringing g
ifts to the Achaemenid king, among them Armenians bringing their famous wine.
Literary references to wine are abundant in Homer (8th century BC, but possibly
relating earlier compositions), Alkman (7th century BC), and others. In ancient
Egypt, six of 36 wine amphoras were found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun bearin
g the name "Kha'y", a royal chief vintner. Five of these amphoras were designate
d as originating from the king's personal estate, with the sixth from the estate
of the royal house of Aten.[24] Traces of wine have also been found in central
Asian Xinjiang in modern-day China, dating from the second and first millennia B
C.[25]
Wine boy at a symposium
Pressing wine after the harvest; Tacuinum Sanitatis, 14th century
The first known mention of grape-based wines in India is from the late 4th-centu
ry BC writings of Chanakya, the chief minister of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya. I
n his writings, Chanakya condemns the use of alcohol while chronicling the emper
or and his court's frequent indulgence of a style of wine known as madhu.[26]
The ancient Romans planted vineyards near garrison towns so wine could be produc
ed locally rather than shipped over long distances. Some of these areas are now
world-renowned for wine production.[27] The Romans discovered that burning sulfu
r candles inside empty wine vessels kept them fresh and free from a vinegar smel
l.[28] In medieval Europe, the Roman Catholic Church supported wine because the
clergy required it for the Mass. Monks in France made wine for years, aging it i
n caves.[29] An old English recipe that survived in various forms until the 19th
century calls for refining white wine from bastard bad or tainted bastardo wine