This week we celebrated National Drink Wine Day, and to celebrate one of our favorite beverages: we looked up its juicy history!
Ancient Beginnings
Before wine became a staple beverage around the world, the first of its kind was crafted in 7000 BC using fermented honey, rice, and fruit in China. Researchers and archeologists have found traces of winemaking in Armenia, Georgia, and Iran as far back as 6000 BC! However, in truth, archeologists are still trying to find the true origins of wine to this day.
The first time wine became a huge and documented staple of culture and religion was in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians created their wine from red grapes because of its visual similarity to blood. Blood, or red wine, was used as an offering in their ceremonies. However, wine was also used as leisure drink and was enjoyed by the nobles at the time.
The Egyptians couldn’t keep their prized drink to themselves for very long. The Phoenicians played a huge part in what wine is today as they saw an opportunity and value in wine for trade.
World Tour
The Phoenicians started to trade across the Mediterranean, which included the wine (of course), ceramic jugs and even the grapevines. This origin of trade spread to the Jews and even the Greeks. As the Greeks grew, they colonized more and more until grapevines grew in Sicily and southern Italy.
However, as we know from our history books, Rome grew to power and as Greece fell the Roman empire grew. It was during this time, around 145 BC, that these infamous grapevines were planted in France, Spain, Portugal, and Germany. By the 1600s, wine had landed in the New World, which included South America, Mexico, and Brazil.
Wine truly became a symbol of religion, health, and trade, for a fully comprehensive timeline of wine click here!
Fun Facts: Some Healthy, Some Just Fun
- The oldest winery was established in 4100 BC in the mountains of Armenia. It was found in a shallow cave by UCLA researchers.
- The Greeks had a god named, Dionysus, god of wine and festivity. Once the Romans took over, they had their own god of wine named Bacchus. Even the Egyptians had a lord of wine named Shezmu. All these civilizations embraced wine as a major part of their culture!
- Did you know there’s a phobia of wine? It’s called oenophobia.
- In ancient time, wine was thought to be good for you, and it fact it is! Flavonoids found in the grape skin in which wine is made from containing antioxidants that help fight free radicals, reduce aging, and raise good cholesterol which is good for your heart!
- That dark green bottle that is commonly used to hold wine? It came from England and crafted by a Sir Kenelm Digby. Without his invention, vintage wine would not have been a thing!
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