Wine is one of the most famous alcohol drinks in the world, but many of us have never asked themselves where wine comes from and how it was invented. This “intelligent beverage” has been side by side to the human being for more than 10 000 years, making people curious about its taste and helping them explore new sensations.
It all started in Armenia, 10 000 B.C. The sun was shining brightly, a human reached his hand to pick up the fruit of a wildvine and he tasted it. Luckily, he liked the sugary taste, so he picked some grapes for his big family. But what happened next was mind-blowing! The family left some of the grapes in a stone vessel, where the warm weather and the shade made those grapes release juice. When our ancestors ate the fermented grapes, they decided to taste the grape juice as well. After that, the god-like sensations that the fermented juice left in their minds, made them gather grapes and leave it in a shady vessel intentionally! According to the theory, things changed around 8 000 B.C, when the human beings made a transition from a nomadic to a sedantism style of living, which led to agriculture and wine domestication.
The earliest archaeological evidence of wine production was found in a site in Georgia and, it was evaluated after a set of analytical data. Its origins were traced back to 6 000 B.C. The earliest found winery dated to 4 100 B.C and it was also found in Armenia. Seems like our fellows, the Armenian ancestors, really loved wine. The site where the winery was found, contained a grape press, fermentation vats, jars and cups. This was the first dedicated wine production and the beginning of the important wine development.
As we all know, wine is present in every culture, being a different kind of a symbol and being a unique significant part of it. For example, wine in Greece is known to be the beverage of youth and God powers. According to the Greek mythology, Dionysus set the beginning of viticulture in his childhood, then taught people how to produce wine and, was rewarded to become the god of wine and joyful moments. Accompanied by Bacchus, the god of pleasure, both of them were related to mastering the spirit lifting. And because wine was also connected to pleasure, not only for its taste, but also for its effect on the human spirit, this is why wine was called “the source of power”. Nowadays the vines in Greece are cultivated exclusively. The most popular modern Greek wine is white or rosé and it is called “retsina”. Its technology of production and sealing is the same as used by their great ancestors – the ancient Greek people. The specific taste of “retsina” comes from the flavor from exposing the wine to tree resins. The so called resinated wine used to be stored in amphorae and sealed with Aleppo pine resin.
In the Medieval period, wine was prohibited and yet, some cultures managed to keep producing it. This alcoholic drink was a source of inspiration for writing poetry, making music and, also, being an obligatory drink on the King’s table.
Whether we compare wine to a source of power and intelligence, or we just prefer drinking sophisticated beverages, we shouldn’t forget to trace wine back to its origins.
