The production and consumption of wine is deeply entrenched in the history of the Western world, with techniques, grape varieties, and rituals being passed from culture to culture through generation after generation. Climate and terrain play a huge part in viticulture affecting the qualities of the grapes, as do the practices of the people producing the wine, so each bottle tells a story of the land where it was grown and of the people who live there. This is why many tourists travel to destinations around the world primarily to see the vineyards and sample their wines. Join us on a journey through prehistoric winemaking as we highlight a few of these destinations that have been making wine since long before the written word.
Georgia
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It’s impossible to know for certain when the first wine was created and by whom, but Georgia (the Eastern European country, not the US state) is often referred to as the birthplace of wine thanks to the oldest archaeological evidence of wine production being found there. That evidence comes in the form of giant egg-shaped terracotta clay vessels called qvevris that date back to 6,000 BCE. The prevailing theory is that the ancient inhabitants of this region accidentally stumbled upon wine production when storing grapes in large pits in the ground. Today, Georgia is the 2nd largest wine producer in the former Soviet Union, with many producers still using the ancient qvevri method. Storing wine this way helps to control oxygenation, which softens the tannins and improves the structure for a smoother and brighter wine. If you want to get an idea of what wine was like in prehistoric times, this is about as close as you're going to get.
Greece
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The earliest evidence of wine production in Greece dates back to 4,500 BCE, with one of the earliest known wine presses being found in Crete at a site called Vathypetro. This site is located about five kilometres south of the village of Archanes and is open to the public, making it a worthy pilgrimage for any wine enthusiast looking to pay their respects. Other innovations that came from early Greek wine making included studying soil to match the grape varieties to the best soil, and minimizing yields to maximize flavor concentration and quality of the grapes. As the Greek city-states expanded their colonies and influence throughout the Mediterranean and Europe, they also spread these innovations in viticulture. While a visit to Crete might be best for historic significance, there are plenty of other regions worthy of a wine lover’s attention, such as the beautiful island of Santorini (which one could describe as one of the most Grammable places in the world).
Armenia
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Armenia is not just one of the first regions in the world to produce wine, it is also home to the oldest known winery ever discovered, dating as far back as 4,100 BCE. Named by archaeologists Areni-1 winery, it is located in a cave in Vayots Dzor Province (and is accessible to the public!). Discovered in 2007, it was found to house fermentation vats, a wine press, and jars for storage, the existence of which changed our perception of how sophisticated wine production was in the region at that time. Additionally, remains of grape seeds and residue found here were analysed and determined to be from Vitis vinifera, the same species of domesticated grape that is used in wine production today. While the written history of Armenian viticulture can trace its roots as far back as 400 BCE, the existence of Areni-1 proves a much longer and more deeply rooted tradition that may have been lost to time, but was carried on through generations and ultimately preserved on the vine.
Sicily
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It was long believed that winemaking had been brought to Sicily by the Mycenaeans of Greece around 1,300 to 1,100 BCE. However, a 2012 discovery on Monte Kronio changed that, when large storage jars dating back to at least 4,000 BCE were found to have telltale evidence of containing wine. The practices of that era have been lost, but we do know that when Greek settlers came to the region, they introduced new grape varieties and brought more sophisticated winemaking techniques. Then with the rise of the Roman Empire, Sicilian wine rose in popularity. Thanks in large part to the diverse climate, fertile lands, and convenient location, wines made here were dispersed throughout the Mediterranean. From the slopes of Mount Etna, where volcanic soil lends a smoky minerality to grapes grown there, to the warm, dry fields of Marsala that are perfect for producing bold fruit flavors, the diversity of Sicily’s wineries is as vast today as it was in the times of the Roman Empire.
