What Is the Origin of Wine Grapes?

While sipping a glass of wine, your mind may wonder to the origins of the grapes in the glass or how winemaking started. With so many different types of wine grapes available, it's hard to imagine a time when wine wasn't around. Wine grapes are grown all over the world, but the first traces of wine appear in an unlikely location.

Time Frame

Grapevine fossils, about 60 million years old, are the earliest known evidence of grapes. The oldest known evidence of wine production dates to around 6,000 BC and is contained in ceramic pots. It is believed that in ancient times vintners used wild grapes. The first written record of winemaking and grape growing can be found in the Old Testament in the Bible. Here it is written that Noah planted grapevines and made wine from the production. The earliest domestication of grapes is thought to be around 3,200 B.C.

Geography

The remains of wine production were found in a Neolithic village in the present-day country of Georgia. Present-day Iran offers evidence for winemaking around 5,000 B.C. The first cultivation of domesticated grapes seems to center around Egypt. Inscriptions on tombs indicate that wine was cultivated around 2,700 B.C. Society's upper class, such as Egyptian priests and royalty, drank wine, while workers drank beer. The Egyptians developed arbors and pruning methods to care for the grapes. Several sites were discovered with sunken jars, indicating the Egyptians understood temperature affected wine.

Theories/Speculation

A well-known Persian fable indicates it was a princess that discovered wine. The tale states that the princess lost the favor of the king and tried to poison herself with a jar of spoiled table grapes. She ate the grapes, becoming intoxicated and giddy. She fell asleep and awoke to discover the mysterious grapes relieved her prior stress. The princess used the grapes to change her conduct and took her discovery to the king. He ordered an increase in production of spoiled grapes. The princess regained the king's favor.

Expansion

The expansion of winemaking and grape growing spread all over the world. Grapes and wine reached Greece by 2,700 B.C., and Dionysus is known as the god of wine and revelry. Some grape varieties grown today in Greece have only grown in that country; making modern Greek wine similar to ancient wines. The Romans revolutionized grape growing and winemaking, using harvesting technologies, bottles and barrels for storage and wine regions developed. Spanish explorers brought wine grapes to the Americas for Catholic ceremonies.

Basics

A wine grape consists of 75 percent pulp, 20 percent skin and 5 percent seeds. There are usually two to four seeds per grape. The pulp is the flesh-colored, soft center of the grape. This is the part of the grape used in winemaking. The pulp is mostly water and sugar with small amounts of vitamins, acids and minerals. The most important part of the pulp is the sugar, since it is turned into alcohol. The skin is responsible for the aromas, flavors, color and tannins present in the finished wine.

Resources

• Professor's House: Wine History