Ancient Origins of Grapes and Wine
I sit cross-legged dowsed in a fine mist, mesmerized by the torrent of cascading liquid before me. The immense propensity of nature to create the perfectly divine, displayed in all its splendor directly in front of my eyes. My Memorial Day weekend consisted of an exciting Saturday of Burgundy, Brats & Blues at Cathedral Ridge, followed by two glorious days of waterfall exploration. The rock wall foundation diverting stark white trails through thick emerald moss drew my thoughts to the evolution of ecosystems and the progression of life to adapt to specific climates. With the lengthy afternoon still in ahead of me, my mind wanders to some of the basic questions that elude me in common day circumstances. I hold a deep passion for agriculture and wine, but had never ventured to ask the obvious inquiry of where was the grape vine born?
The ancient origins of grape cultivation and the production of wine stretches over 8000 years back to cultures based around the Black Sea. The earliest archaeological evidence of established grape cultivation dates to around 6500 BC in what is now known as Georgia (and no not Ol’ Dixie kind of Georgia, rather the area previously part of the Soviet Union). The truth of how wine was discovered by man may never fully be understood, but there is a strong possibility that it was stumbled upon accidentally when man placed wild grapes into some form of container where they fermented in reaction to the naturally occurring yeast found on the skins. Around 5000 BC a civilization near the Zagros Mountains in current day western Iran began storing large quantities of wine in the hillsides. After its dissemination from the Black Sea region three main cultures, the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, adopted and adapted viticultural practices, thus defining and ensuring mans affinity towards wine throughout the ages.
The desire for grapes and wine traveled west becoming essential in everyday life as food, drink, pure enjoyment and an important piece of religion. Egyptian kings were buried with jars of wine in the 3rd millennium BC and detailed records of grape harvest, wine production and subsequent transportation were discovered dating to around 1500 BC. Wine was not only a wonder to mankind, but became an integral staple in ceremonial offerings to the Egyptian Gods. Their God of wine Osiris was held in high regard as he was the provider of and keeper of the fertile Nile Delta vineyards. Formulating varying qualities of wine, the Egyptians produced everyday wine for the commoners all the way to royal wines that were an essential feature of the burial process.
Historical evidence points to the presence of wine in Greece where grapes remnants were found dating to back to 4000 BC, representing the earliest production of wine in Europe. Dionysus, the Greek God of wine and revelry, was a popular character in famous Greek works written by Homer. Vineyards thrived in the Greek sun and the finesse of the wine making process became finely tuned. By 300 BC the Greeks dominated in quality and quantity production of wine. From this jumping off point grapes and wine continued their journey farther into the European heartland of Italy, France, Germany and Spain.
As the Roman stage grew in scope and stature their love of wine flourished and proliferated along with their empire. They introduced vines to the Bordeaux region of France and established the Rhone and Mosel Rivers as fundamental modes of transportation. In 79 AD Mt Vesuvius erupted destroying the crucial port of Pompeii, thus crippling the Italian’s ability to import and export wine. Wine became more commonly incorporated into the Christian faiths in Catholic Mass and as a generally popular Christian libation around 300 AD. As the Roman rule collapsed around 500 AD the future of wine found itself in great peril, but with the luck of divine intervention the monks and their protective abbeys took the sacred liquid under their wing.
The true golden age of wine begins in this era with the monks conducting vineyard experiments in yield, flavors and differing varieties. Here behind the monastery walls vineyards flourished and angelic wine was created. European regions continued to specialize in varietals adapted to suit their unique climates, thus establishing some of the worlds finest grape growing regions.
Salud,
Courtney Black
Gorgeous picture Courtney!