History of Wine

Wine production came about with the cultivation of grapes. During ancient times, wild grapes abound and were familiar to the people as shown by the ancient cave drawings of grape seeds. Grapes were later used as wine which in turn branched out to many uses in ancient society.

Wine was served and drank for the purposes of seduction, as a stimulant for courage during battles, reconciliation, sealing pacts, celebrating religious festivals and for rituals, etc. Grapes were first known to be grown domestically in Southern Caucasus and the Near East, especially in the Fertile Crescent area.

Earliest historical records have shown the presence of wine growing in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The first known source of wine production was discovered in Iran during 6,000 – 5,000 B.C. Grapevines and vineyards were unearthed in this place during that period. In Egypt, wine became a part of its ceremonies and rituals. The Egyptians produced white wine from the Muscat grapes which grew abundantly in Alexandria. They stomped on the grapes to extract the juice and allowed it to ferment in large vats.

The spread of wine- Making to other European places was attributed to the Phoenicians who were a seafaring people. They reached places like Italy and Greece. Wine production in France, Germany, Italy, and other European countries dates back to the Romans and Celts who dominated Europe in the past.

During the glory of the Roman Empire, wine was served in lavish occasions. It was in the Middle Ages that wine making became a popular skill. Technology in wine production improved as in the development of the wine press and the use of barrels. It was in Medieval Europe that wine was used in the religious rites of the Roman Catholics in their masses. Christian monks of France and Northern Italy were responsible for producing wines and coming up with new wine varieties. They kept track of the types of grapes they have fermented and the details of the result. This turned to better improvement in wine production until France became the best wine-producing region in the world.

On the other side, the advocates of Islam, through Geber and other Muslim chemists, concentrated on the uses of wine for its medicinal and industrial benefits. Nowadays, wine has been studied by modern medicine and has been proven for its health benefits. Throughout world-wide society now, wine-production exists in other places. Among the new vintners of wine history are the Americas, Africa, and Australia. oregon wine tours