Ancient Wine History

The practice of cultivating wine for consumption dates back thousands of years. There are many stories surrounding the origins of wine. It has been said that wine was introduced by accident when grapes that had soured were eaten. Instead of producing sickness, it evoked positive feelings and word of the effect spread. For centuries, people produced wine in this way. It wasn’t until the Neolithic times that grape cultivation and processing of wine began rather than through natural spoilage.

The Neolithic period was a time when people began using purposeful objects to better their lives. This was also the earliest period of time where there has been archaeological evidence showing wine production. Grapes were grown and cultivated, and then pressed to extract the juice. It was then placed in a container and allowed to sit for a period of time before being consumed. Wine was drunk mostly by members of royalty, or used by priests in religious ceremonies. 

Ancient wine making techniques are quite different from modern processes. Historically, grapes were grown on vines that were easily maintained. They were harvested, pressed by the feet of workers, and the juice was collected. The techniques of today are much more advanced. Grapes are processed with the use of electricity to remove the juice, and then filtered to eliminate any solid particles. Water is also added to maintain alcohol content and preservatives keep the wine from spoiling.

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Wine was popular in ancient Egypt, as many hieroglyphics show grapevines and wine pressing. It was consumed mostly by kings and members of the royal family. The Egyptians also had a system of labeling their containers with information such as the year each bottle was made; similar to our labeling process today.

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Wine originated in Mesopotamia. Grapevines were native to this area and the earliest evidence comes from the remains of a broken jar found dating back to 5000B.C. After grapes were cultivated and wine was produced, it was also sometimes transported throughout the region by way of the Euphrates or Tigris rivers.

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Historically, grape vines were trained to grow on a column or onto another tree in order to keep the fruit off the ground. After cultivating and placing the juice in jars, it was discovered that adding tree resin could prevent the wine from turning into vinegar. Tree resin was a natural remedy and was used mostly from the trees of pine, cedar, or elder.

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Wine is historically significant, and its production has evolved into a large industry. Through many years of harvest and production, the process has allowed us to produce the wine that is enjoyed by many people today. One great way to enjoy wine is with a wine gift basket!