2. CONTENTS
In the Beginning
Neolithic Civilisation
Melting Pot of Wine Discovery
Predynastic Period
The Glory that was Greece
Early Viticulture
Early Winemaking
Primitive Societies
Styles of Wine
3. IN THE BEGINNING
It was noted in Genesis 9:20-21, “and Noah began to be a
husbandman, and he planted a vineyard; and he drank of the wine
and was drunken”. (Amerine & Singleton, 1977)
This biblical story was one of the first references to the existence
of wine, and its consumption.
4. NEOLITHIC CIVILISATION
Grape growing was first seen in this time period (6000 to
4000BC), below the Caucasus Mountains, in the region of
Georgia. Archaeology has traced the roots of Georgian
viticulture back to at least 6000 BC, and there is also “proof
in this claim that is seen in many of the unearthed silver, gold
and bronze Georgian artefacts that have imprints of the vine,
grape clusters and leaves.” (Theroux, 2012)
6. MELTING POT OF WINE
DISCOVERY
There are so many claims on the true founders of the vine
and its ability to produce wine. Apparently the vine is native to
Persia, but then there is also reference to wine in many
different languages including the Hittites (the dominant
linguistic group in the Middle East), Armenian, Georgian,
Hebrew, Latin, Sabaean, Arabic, and Ethiopian.
However…
7. PREDYNASTIC PERIOD
…The best records of the early wine industry came from Egypt.
They documented the process of wine making, descriptions of
harvesting grapes and drinking wine on clay tablets, which have been
discovered within the burial chambers of Egyptian royalty.
Image: (http://sacredmistsblog.com/archaeomagick-wine-%E2%80%93-the-history-and-mythology-of-
the-classic-ritual-drink)
9. THE GLORY THAT WAS
GREECE
“The wine industry reached a much higher degree of perfection,
with the detailed wine descriptions written by the famous Greek bard,
Homer.” (Amerine & Singleton, 1977)
The wine industry also reached a much higher degree of sensuality
with the rise of Dionysus’ cult, in the 17th century, where wine-
induced celebrations of an orgiastic character were in full swing.
10. EARLY VITICULTURE
The cultivation of the grape is a very ancient industry. Remnants
of grape seeds have been found in Georgian villages dating back
several thousand years B.C. where the grapes grew wild. (Amerine &
Singleton, 1977). Grapes were casually harvested. It was quite unlike
the viticulture that is seen today, where vines are now manipulated
and trained.
11. EARLY WINEMAKING
Winemaking dates from at least 4000BC. Since yeasts are
everywhere, fermentation would have been no problem. So the elixir
of joyful times, wine, probably came about by accident one day.
Archaeological evidence suggests that grape cultivation and wine
making began in Mesopotamia and areas surrounding the Caspian Sea
sometime between 6000 and 4000 BC. (Owen, 2008)
12. PRIMITIVE SOCIETIES
In the Egyptian times wine was expensive and was only really
enjoyed “by priests and royalty, while commoners drank beer, mead,
and ale”. (Owen, 2008). Where wine was common, it was taxed.
13. STYLES OF WINE..
OR LACK OF
The first wines would have been of very poor quality, but it was
apparent very early on that people knew of the effects that air had on
wine. The practise of adding herbs or other materials suggests the
intention of covering up undesirable odours associated with wine
spoilage. Greeks liked to have their wine with a meal, and more often
than not they diluted it with water.
14. AND THEN THERE WAS
HISTORY…
(http://www.wpwines.com/blog/news/38/)
15. REFERENCES
Amerine, M.A., & Singleton, V.L. (1977). Wine (2nd ed.). USA: University of California Press.
Johnson, H. (1974). Wine (1st ed.). London: Thomas Nelson Limited.
Owen, D. (2008). Song of the Vine. Cornell University. Retrieved from
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/ewga/exhibition/introduction/
Owen, J. (2011). Earliest Known Winery Found in Armenian Cave. National Geographic Society.
Retrieved from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/01/110111-oldest-wine-
press- making-winery-armenia-science-ucla/
Seldon, P. (n.d). Notable Quotes. Wine Quotes. Retrieved from http://www.notable-
quotes.com/w/wine_quotes.html
The Georgian Wine Society. (2013). About Georgian Wines. The Georgian Wine Society. Retrieved
from http://georgianwinesociety.co.uk/about-georgian-wines/
Theroux, M. (2012). Discovering Wine in Georgia. Lonely Planet Traveller. Retrieved from
http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20121012-discovering-wine-in-georgia
Notes de l'éditeur
1. “It was said in the eight chapter of Genesis that Noah’s Ark came to rest upon the Caucasus Mountains in Turkey.” (Amerine & Singleton, 1977)
The State Museum of Georgia has on display a cup of high-carat gold set with gems. It was a family affair. They used clay vessels and buried them underground for fermentation and to keep at a good temperature.
1. This is a small clay tablet used by the Egyptians to record perhaps one of the earliest documented mention of wine. It is a receipt for jugs of wine. (Owen, 2008)
1. There was no doubt that wine contained alcohol by this stage.
1. Some people wouldn’t have even called Prehistory grape growing “early viticulture”.
1. Mesopotania is an area in the middle east that corresponds to modern day Iraq.
Tops of wine containers were usually covered and often sealed with pitch or grease.
To research Prehistory is overwhelming and confusing due to the multitude of different opinions and stories. They are all fascinating however, and depending on how good the writing is; quite compelling. Fact or fiction aside, wine is here now and it had to come from somewhere, so I tip my hat to all the discoverers, creators, and storytellers, because as Hugh Johnson stated in his short documentaries … “wine is a vital joy to life”.