Wine & Spirits Information

Who Made the First Wine Anyway?


Although details are understandably sketchy, it is believed that, around 6000 BC, grapes were being grown and wine was being made in Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq).

Mesopotamia and Egypt Wine was popular with the pharaohs of ancient Egypt from about 3000 BC onwards. Inscriptions and illustrations of grape harvesting and wine making have been found in a number of tombs.

Many temples had vineyards attached to them and it is thought that wine was used for religious ritual purposes. However, as is still true today, the majority of Egyptian wine was produced in the Nile delta area.

Wine was stored in clay jars, as wooden barrels were unknown to the ancient Egyptians.

Greece The exact date that winemaking started in Greece is unknown. However, the remains of a stone wine press, dating from around 1600BC, have been found at a villa in Crete. Wine consumption in ancient Greece had strong associations with the cult of the god, Dionysos. With the rise of Greek influence throughout the Mediterranean and Black Sea areas, vines were introduced to areas as far apart as Spain, France, Italy and Georgia. It is believed that a number of traditional southern Italian grape varieties (e.g. Aglianico) were introduced by the Greeks.

Roman Empire The Romans continued the developments started by the Greeks. Wine was exported to all parts of the Roman Empire including France, Britain and the Rhineland area of Germany. Vineyards were also planted in many of these areas. The Romans documented different grape varieties and the types of soil that produced the highest yields. They also introduced wooden barrels and glass bottles to the wine trade, although these items didn't completely replace clay amphorae for wine storage.

During the Dark Ages, vineyards were maintained by the monasteries as a source of communion wine. These wine producers laid the foundations for much of today's modern wine industry throughout Europe.

Since Neil Best first pondered the question, Who made the first wine anyway? he's been recording his findings at Good Glug. This article forms part of the new and free Good Glug Wine Appreciation Mini Course. Visit now to get your copy.


MORE RESOURCES:

US wins WTO appeal in India wine, spirits case
guardian.co.uk, UK - Oct 30, 2008
GENEVA, Oct 30 (Reuters) - The United States won an appeal on Thursday at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in a dispute over extra duties on Indian ...


Guests at Smithville event chill out with wine, spirits
phillyBurbs.com, PA - Nov 2, 2008
By MELISSA HAYES EASTAMPTON — As Denise Jubb was speaking to a group of people about ghost hunting, she felt chills run down her legs. ...


Farragutpress

Buy in Farragut kicks off Saturday
Farragutpress, TN - Nov 19, 2008
Farragut business owners are readying themselves for this year’s month-long “Buy In Farragut” campaign, to begin Saturday, Nov. 22. ...


Beaujolais Nouveau hits bars after poor crop
Seattle Times, United States - Nov 20, 2008
The 2008 edition of Beaujolais Nouveau wine is here, and vintners hope it will lift spirits despite the financial crisis and a dismal crop. ...


FRANCE: Wine, spirits markets under pressure - Pernod Ricard
just-drinks.com (subscription), UK - Oct 29, 2008
Pernod Ricard's CEO, Pierre Pringuet, has warned that an economic slowdown across Western Europe has begun to take its toll on wine and spirits markets. ...


EU RULING TO SLASH 'BOOZE CRUISE' LIMITS
UK Express, UK - Nov 19, 2008
By Nick Fagge KILLJOY Eurocrats last night threatened to ruin Christmas for more than three million Britons by clamping down on booze cruises. ...


Olinger Distributing Named Outstanding Corporate Philanthropist
MarketWatch - Nov 18, 2008
Glazer's, currently operating in 11 states, is one of the nation's largest wholesale distributors of wine, spirits, and malt beverage products. ...


Greek food
The Times of Trenton - NJ.com, NJ - Nov 11, 2008
Homestyle Greek cuisine will again be baked, sautéed, roasted and offered for sale at the popular Yiayia's (Grandmother's) Kitchen this week at St. George ...


Examiner.com

The Second Glass launches wine seminars this Wednesday: Downtown ...
Examiner.com - Nov 12, 2008
by Julia Timakhovich, Boston Wine Examiner Downtown Wine & Spirits, a local Davis Square darling, is graciously offering its facilities—and a newly created ...


Lion Nathan full year pre-tax earnings rise 3.8 pct
National Business Review, New Zealand - Nov 17, 2008
... level (in New Zealand) has been accomplished through successful innovation and a `one-business' approach covering beer, wine, spirits and RTDs. ...

Wine-Spirits - Google News

Home | Site Map

Powered By: Work At Home With Google - FREE!

© 2006
Google