HISTORY Of The VINE

  • SUB-TOPICS Of HISTORY Of The VINE
    1. Back-Story of “The Vine”
    2. Historical Time-Line of “The Vine”
    3. Ancient World
    4. Ancient Wine

1) BACK-STORY Of The VINE

  • The Back Story is Made Up of Things Like Country, Culture, Terroir, Winery, Winemaker, Grape. Do Knowing Them Make the Wine Taste Better, or Make the Experience More Enjoyable? Can You Taste the Backstory and is it Worth the Increased Price? You Can’t Fully Understand the Style of a Wine Produced Today Without Having a Appreciation of How it Evolved In Time Over the Centuries. Sometimes, it’s More Than What’s In the Bottle. The Back-Story Almost Transported You to the Place of Origin and Allows You to Consider What Went Into the Production of the Wine and the People Who Worked So Hard to Produce That Bottle.

“History of “The Vine” is Limited to the Fact Wine Has Been Produced Longer Than Recorded History.”

  • The First Appearance of a Vine Later Named Vitis Vinifera Sylvetris Appeared 65-Million Year Ago In the Super Continent of Pangea. All Grapes Today Are Descended From This Single “Vitis Vinifera” Wild-Grape Variety.
  • Over Time Pangea Split and a Grape Vine Vitas Apelopsus and It’s Two Sub-Species: Vitis American and Vitas Eurasian Spread Throughout the World.
  • The Southern Caucasus Vine Domestication- Event Lasting Millions of Years Where Vines Crossed Naturally and Spontaneously In the Wild Population Leading to Thousands of New Vine Species.
  • The Caucasus Mountains/ Anotolo Highland Between the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea In Mesopotamia(Now Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan) and/ or the Taurus Mountains of South-Eastern Turkey Are Origin of Vitis Vinifera. This Area is Important Because It’s One the Only Places to Survive the Last Ice Age.  Vines, Wines and Viticulture Spread.  By the Simple Process of Man Saying I Like That, I’m Going to Take Some With Me.  South Down the Tigris River and Euphrates Rivers to the Larger Cities of the Earliest Civilizations of Babylon and Persia (Now Iran). This Area Became Center of Ancient Grape Growing World. Eventually Wine Spread to Egypt, Who Introduced Wine to Greece, Who Advanced Viticulture.  After Bringing Wine to the Italian Peninsula the Romans Introduced Wine to the Rest of Europe, Who Introduced Wine Throughout the Modern New World.
  • WINE & PHILOSOPHY? “Do People Who Posses a Greater Knowledge and Background About “The Vine” Enjoy Wine More or Have a Enhanced Perceptual Experience With Wine?”
    • “Knowing the Back-Story Can Lead to a Greater Appreciating of  Wine.  Knowing the Winemaker, Winery, History, Culture or Having Been to the Growing Area Adds to the Drinking Experience and Can Guide or Help Us With Better Buying Decisions.”

2) WORLD HISTORIC TIME-LINE & “The VINE”

“History Behind “The Vine” Makes Wine Fascinating and Lends Meaning to What’s In the Bottle.”

  • HISTORICAL ACRONYMS

    • BC. Before Christ                               AD. Anno Domini(Refers to Birth of Jesus)
    • BCE. Before Common Era               CE. Common Era

**Refer to “@OLD WORLD/ NEW WORLD” for Information On All Historical References.

PRE-HISTORIC–TIME PERIOD– 5 Million- 6000 Years Before Christ

  • 65 Million Years Ago- First Grape Vine Evolved.
  • 6000 BC. @Georgia– Zagros Mountains- Oldest Remnants of Wine Discovered.
  • 5000 BC. @Mesopotamians– Phoenicians, Sumerians -All Making Wine.
  • 4500 BC. @                          – Oldest Painting of Wine Culture Done.
  • 4200 BC. @Eastern Macedonia– Oldest Remnants of Wine In Europe.
  • 4100 BC. @Armenia– Oldest Winery Found.
  • 4000 BC. @Spain– Phoenicians Settled In Spain and Started Cultivating Wine.

ANCIENT EGYPT– TIME PERIOD– 3500 BC.

  • 3500 BC. @Egypt– Egyptians, Phoenicians, Pharaohs Rise to Power, Make Wine.
  • 3100 BC. @Egypt– 1st. Wine Label, Stamped Into to Clay Vase.
  • 3000 BC. @Egypt– Wine Started to Be “Written About” In Writing.
  • 3000 BC. @Egypt– Wine Started to Be “Mass Produces”.

ANCIENT GREECE– TIME PERIOD– 2500 BC.

  • 2500 BC. @Greece– Introduced to Viticulture by Phoenician/ Egyptians.
  • 1600 BC. @Mesopotamia– Glass Making Emerges.
  • 1345 BC. @Egypt– Tutankhamen Buried With 26 Wines.
  • 1153 BC. @Egypt– King Rameses Buried With 20,000 Jars of Wine.
  • 1100 BC. @Phoenicians– Influence Colonization of Mediterranean.
  • 1000 BC. @Rome– “Viticulture”, Introduced to Region by Greece.
  • 800 BC. @Italy– Etruscans Cultivated Vine Before Romans In Central Italy.
  • 800 BC. @France, Spain, Portugal– Introduced to Viticulture Roman Empire.

ANTIQUITY–  TIME PERIOD– 700 BC. to 479

  • 728 BC. @Sicilia– Greeks Acquired and Starting Planting Vines, Know as Magna Graecia.
  • 700 BC.– 300 @Lazio– “Etruscans”, Ancient Civilization Occupying Central Italy.
  • 600 BC. @France– “Viticulture”, Introduced to Region by Greeks/ Roman Empire.
  • 600 BC. @Province– “Viticulture”, Wine Culture Influence by Romans, Gauls, Catalans.
  • 500 BC. @Rhone Valley– “Viticulture”, Introduced to Region by Greeks.
  • 500 BC. @Roussillon– Romans Planted First Organized Grapes/ Vineyards.
  • 200 BC. @France– Roman Empire, Mastered Viniculture.
  • 150 BC. @Rhone Valley– Romans Establish Quality Vineyards and Reputation For Wine.
  • 100 BC. @England– Romans Planted Vine In England During Their Occupation.
  • 00 @Jerusalem– Jesus is Born.
  • 00 @Alsace– “Viticulture”, Introduced to Region by Romans.
  • 30 @Jerusalem– Jesus Christ Turns Water Into Wine.
  • 52 @Burgundy– “Occupation”, Area Controlled by the Romans.
  • 79 @Pompeii– Buried by Mt. Vesuvius Volcanic Eruption.
  • 200 @Roman Empire– “Wine as a Drug”, Wine Used as Antiseptic, Tranquilizer, Drug.
  • 300 @Germany– World Oldest Liquid Wine.
  • 379 @Bordeaux– First Vineyards Planted In Region.
  • 400 @Bordeaux– “Viticulture”, Introduced to Region by Romans.
  • 436 @Burgundy– “Occupation”, Area Controlled by Burgundian(People of Germanic Origins).

DARK AGES– TIME PERIOD– 450 to 1000

  • 479 @Roma– “Fall of Rome”, Viticulture Kept Alive During by Church, Monks & Monasteries.
  • 500 @Champagne– “Viticulture”, Introduced to Region by Romans.
  • 500 – 1200’s @Europe– “Occupation”, South-West France Was Ruled by England.
  • 534 @Burgundy– “Occupation”, Area Occupied by Franks(People of Germanic Origins).
  • 700 @Spain– Moors Conquered Spain and Put a Stop to Most Wine Making.
  • 800 @Spain– “Viticulture”, Introduced by Roman Empire.
  • 910 @Burgundy– “Dark Ages”, Monks/ Churches Took Over Wine Production.

MIDDLE AGES– TIME PERIOD– 1000 to 1400

  • 1100 @Greater Europe– “Monks & Monasteries”
  • 1100 @Spain– “Mid Evil”, Christianity Overtook Spain Reviving Wine and Wealth.
  • 1100 @Rheingau– First Vines Planted at Would Become Schloss Johannesburg.
  • 1211 @Rheingau– Grapes First Vines Planted at Schloss Vallrads.
  • 1152-1453 @Bordeaux– “The English Connection”, Area Was Ruled by England.
  • 1200’s @France– Languedoc Region Has Belonged to France.
  • 1200’s – 1700’s @Corsica– Ruled by Republic of Genoa.
  • 1300  @Iberian Coast– Bark of Cork Trees Used to Seal Bottles.
  • 1335 @Mosel– First Vines Planted at Karthauserhof.
  • 1363-1792 @Burgundy– “Occupation”, Area Controlled by Dukes.
  • 1395 @Burgundy– Philippe the Bold/ Duke of Burgundy, Banished Gamay From The Cote d’Or to Beaujolais.
    • He Referred to the Grape as “The Disloyal Variety”, and All Planting Had to Be Removed.
  • 1400’s @Andalucia– “New Market”, Exports of Wine Starts to England.

RENAISSANCE– TIME PERIOD–  1300 to 1600

  • 1530 @Mexico, Brazil– Introduced to Viticulture by Portuguese & Spanish.
  • 1550 @Chile, Argentina– Introduction of Viticulture/ Coming of Age 1990’s.
  • 1564 @America– “Viticulture”, Introduced to Region by European.
  • 1600’s @Medoc– Dutch Built Dikes and Drained Marsh In Estuary.
  • 1607 @Virginia– First Grape Vines Planted by English Settlers at Jamestown.
  • 1650 @Greater Europe– Glass Bottles For Use of Storage.
  • 1650 @Bordeaux, France– Cabernet Sauvignon as We Know it Evolved.
  • 1655 @South Africa– Viticulture Introduced French.
  • 1659 @Roussillon– Was Part of Spain Until the Treaty of the Pyrenees.
  • 1663 @Bordeaux– Haut-Brion, the First Estate to Be Referenced, Rather Than a Region.
  • 1670 @Pauillac, France– Vineyard Planted at Lafite-Rothschild.

MODERN ERA– TIME PERIOD–  1700+

  • 1700’s @Andalucia– “New Market”, One of First Wines to Be Consistently Imported Into America.
  • 1716 @Chianti– Cosimo III, Grand Duke of Tuscany, Delimited the Chianti Production Zone.
  • 1740 @Europe– Corks Started to Be Used On a Grander Scale.
  • 1750 @Burgundy– Wine Were Considered Inferior, Seen as Light Wines For Early Drinking.
  • 1769 @Corsica– “Annexation”, The Control of Island Goes to France.
  • 1776 @Philadelphia– Madeira Drank After Declaration of Independence.
  • 1789 @France– After Revolution Land From Church Split Into Parcels, Sold.
  • 1792 @Burgundy– Over-Through of Elites, Led by Napoleon.
  • 1800’s @French– “The Modernization”, Took  Place Across French Regions.
  • 1800’s @Montalcino– Brunello Was Referred to a Rosso-Vino di Montalcino.
  • 1821 @Canary Islands– Portuguese Gave Islands to Spain In Exchange Madeira, the Azores.
  • 1836 @New Zealand– Introduction of Viticulture/ Coming of Age 1980’s.
  • 1845 @Germany– Hock(Germany Wine) Becomes More Main Stream.
  • 1855 @France– Bordeaux Classification is Carried Out.
  • 1855 @Burgundy– “Occupation”, Area Controlled by Jules Lavelle.
  • 1857 @Sonoma– (Buena Vista) 1st. Commercial California Winery.
  • 1860 @Europe– Good Wine Labels Are Developed.
  • 1861 @Italia– “Independence”, On March 17, Italy Became a Modern Nation State.
  • 1864 @France– Proof Fermentation is Carried Out by Living Yeast Cells
  • 1862 @France– (Lirac) Ground Zero For Phylloxera Epidemic.
  • 1871 @Alsace– “Occupation”, Region Controlled by Germany.
  • 1872 @Penedes– Cava/ Sparkling Wine Produced.
  • 1875- 92 @France– “Phylloxera Epidemic”, Louse Destroys 75% of French Vineyard.
  • 1876 @Spain– “Phylloxera Epidemic”
  • 1890 @Rioja/ Spain– “Phylloxera Free”, Other Countries Came to Rioja.
  • 1895 @Piemonte– “Federico Martinotti”, Invented the Sparking Wine “Tank Method/ Martinotti Method”.
  • 1900’s @Sicilia– Marked by a Century of Wars and Poverty. 
  • 1910- 11 @Champagne– “Champagne Riots”, Protest/ Riots Take Place.
  • 1918 @Friuli– “Annexation”, Once Part of the Austrian Hungarian Empire Until 1918.
  • 1919 @Alsace– “Annexation”, Control of Region Back to France After World War I.
  • 1919 @Alto Adige/ Sud Tyrol–  “Annexation”, Control of Region Back to Italy After World War I.
  • 1926 @Rioja– “Wine Law”, DO. Officially Established.
  • 1930 @Burgundy– Area of Burgundy Defined.
  • 1935 @France– Appellation Control For Wine is Developed.
  • 1936 @Chateauneuf-du-Pape– AOC. Established as First Official French Wine Appellation.
  • 1936 @Burgundy– AOC. Laws Defined.
  • 1936-1939  @Spain– “Spanish Civil War”
  • 1940 @Italia– Reputation For Lying About “What Was In the Bottle”.
  • 1940- 45 @Alsace– Germany Occupied Alsace During World War II.
  • 1950 @Rioja– “Modernization”, of Rioja Takes Place.
  • 1970’s @Roussillon/ Languedoc– “Wine Bank”, Bulk Wine Surplus That Plagued the Industry.
  • 1975 @Alsace– “Grand Cru”, Vineyard Delimitation Takes Place. 
  • 1976 @Paris/ Napa– “Judgement of Paris Tasting”, Napa Wines Beat French In Blind Tasting.
  • 1980’s @Roussillon/ Languedoc– “Vine Pull Scheme”, Government Pays Grower to Pull Vineyards.
  • 2000 @England– New Wave of Sparkling Winemaking.
  • 2000 @Bordeaux– “Rise of the Asian Market”
  • 2ooo’s @Sicilia– “Resurgence”, Last 25 Years Has Seen an Increase In the Regions Viticulture.

NEW WORLD– TIME PERIOD–  1600’s

  • 1521 @Mexico– “Viticulture”, Influenced by Conquistadors/ Dominican Missionaries From Spain.
  • 1607 @Virginia– “Viticulture”, First Vitis Vinifera Vines Planted by English Settlers at Jamestown.
  • 1770 @California– Junipero Serra & Franciscan Missionaries Planted Vineyards at Missions From San Diego to Sonoma.
  • 1769 @California– Junipero Serra Planted Grapes at Mission San Diego de Alcala.
  • 1780’s @California– Junipero Serra and Missionaries Planted Vineyards at Missions From San Diego to Sonoma.
  • 1774 @Virginia– Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello Estate Planted Cutting From Italy, France and Spain.
  • 1776 @Philadelphia– Madeira, Claret and Muscat Drank After Declaration of Independence.
  • 1812 @Fort Ross– “Viticulture”, Russians Immigrants Planted Vines.
  • 1821 @California– “Mexican/ Spanish War”,  Independence, Missions Become Less Religious and More Agricultural.
  • 1825 @Washington– “Viticulture”, First Vines Planted by Settlers.
  • 1826 @California– Joseph Chapman Started First Commercial Grape Growing In Los Angeles.
  • 1830 @California– Nicholas Longworth- Establishes First Commercial Winery Los Angeles Called El Aliso Vineyard.
  • 1834 @Sonoma– “Historic Winery”, First Vines Planted at Mission of St. Francis.
  • 1836 @Yountville– “Viticulture”, George Young Planted First Vineyards In Napa.
  • 1843 @Fort Vancouver– “Viticulture”, Hudson’s Bay Company Plants First Vine In Oregon.
  • 1843 @Umpqua– On Oregon Trail.
  • 1848 @Sierra– “Gold Found”, Gold at Sutter’s Mills, Influx of European Settlers.
  • 1848 @California– “Mexican/ American War”,  American Wins California.
  • 1849 @California– “Gold Rush”, Brought Prosperity and With it the Spread of Population and Vines.
  • 1849 @California– Haraszthy, Buena Vista *Brought 165 Varietal From Europe.
  • 1850 @California– Officially Becomes a State In America.
  • 1850 @America– “Trans-Continental Railroad”, Connects California to East Coast.
  • 1850 @Oak Knoll– Joseph Osborne Planted 1,800ac. In Oak Knoll.
  • 1854 @Napa– John Patchett, Open Napa’s First Official Winery.
  • 1854 @Calastoga– “Historic Winery”, Alfred Tubbs Build and Plants Chateau Montelena.
  • 1855 @Buena Vista– Agoston Haraszthy- Build 1st. Grandiose Winery “Started” California Wine Industry.
  • 1856 @Alexander Valley– Cyrus Alexander Plants First Grapes In Alexander Valley.
  • 1857 @Sonoma– “Buena Vista”, 1st. Commercial California Winery.
  • 1860 @California– “End of Gold Rush”, European Immigrant Miner Become Grape Farmers.
  • 1861 @St. Helena– Charles Krug, Plant Vines, Established Charles Krug Winery.
  • 1862 @Europe– Governor Appointed Haraszthy Head of a Viticulture Trip to Europe.
  • 1862 @St. Helena– German Jacob Schram Establishes Schramsberg Winery.
  • 1873 @Sonoma– First Pinot Noir Vine Planted at Rochioli Estate.
  • 1870 @California– “Economy”, Becomes Top Wine Producing State In America.
  • 1873 @California– “Phylloxera Epidemic”, Starts, by 1881 All Portion of California Effected.
  • 1873 @Sonoma– First Pinot Noir Vine Planted at Rochioli Estate.
  • 1873 @California– “Phylloxera”,Phylloxera Outbreak, Effecting Vitis Vinifera Grapes.
  • 1874 @St Helena– Joseph Ghisletta, Plants Sunny St. Helena Winery.
  • 1876 @St. Helena– German Jacob & Fredrick Beringer,  Establishes Beringer Winery.
  • 1877 @Napa– “Phylloxera”, Phylloxera Hits Napa Valley.
  • 1877 @Howell Mountain– Jean Brun & WJ. Chaix Plants First Vineyards.
  • 1879 @Calastoga– Finland Gustave Niebaum, Established Inglenook.
  • 1880 @Pritchard Hill– Charles Pritchard Planted Zinfandel.
  • 1881 @Oakville– Hamilton Crab, Planted 119ac. Vineyard That Became To-Kolon.
  • 1890 @Napa– “Planting Boom”, Pre 1900’s Planting Expansion.
  • 1890’s @Napa– “Phylloxera Epidemic”, Phylloxera Hits, Destroying Majority of Vineyards.
  • 1895 @Rutherford– “Historic Winery”, Thomas Rutherford, Plants Vineyards, Becomes Rutherford.
  • 1900’s @Washington– Growing Grapes For Juices, Jelly or Jams.
  • 1900 @Lake County– Strong Wine Industry Throughout Lake County.
  • 1916 @Oregon– “Prohibition”, Starting 4 Years Earlier In Oregon 1916 -1933.
  • 1920 @America– “Prohibition”, January 17th. 1920 to December 5th. 1933.
  • 1933 @America– “Prohibition”, End of Prohibition.
  • 1920 @America– “Prohibition”, January 17th. 1920 to December 5th. 1933.
  • 1930’s @America– “Great Depression”Great Depression
  • 1933 @America– “Prohibition”, End of Prohibition.
  • 1933 @Oregon– “Historic Winery”, Honeywood Winery- Oldest Continuously Operating Winery In Oregon.
  • 1940’s @Washington– “Irrigation Project”, Changed “Desert” Into Profitable Farming Land.
  • 1944 @Napa– Seven Members Formed Napa Valley Vintners Association.
  • 1960’s @Willamette– “Viticulture”, Pre-Modern Winemaking Movement Began.
  • 1960’s @Napa– “Wine Renaissance”, New Generation
  • 1960’s @Washington– “Viticulture”, Modern Wine Era Started.
  • 1960 @Lake County– “Re-Emergence”, Wine Industry Starts Growing Again.
  • 1961 @Umpqua Valley– First Pinot Noir Vineyard is Planted In Oregon by Richard Sommer at Hillcrest.
  • 1965 @Corvallis– David Lett Plants First Pinot Noir In Southern Willamette Valley.
  • 1965 @Oakville– Robert Mondavi, Leaved Krug to Start Robert Mondavi Winery.
  • 1969 @Washington– “Wine Law”, Allowing Imported Wines From Other States and Countries Into Washington.
  • 1970 @Dundee– Sokol Blosser Plants First Vines In Dundee.
  • 1974 @California–  1972, Ste. Michelle Riesling Wins Best White In LA. Time Wine Competition.
  • 1975 @Oregon/ Paris–  “Wine Olympics”
    • David Lett’s Eyrie Pinot Noir Takes 2nd. to Chambolle Musigny In Wine Olympics In Paris. This Event Lead to Burgundy Producers to Buy Built and Buy Estates In Willamette Valley.
  • 1975’s @Napa– “Irrigation”, Drip Irrigation Introduced
  • 1976 @California/ France– “Judgement of Paris”, Napa vs. France Blind Wine Tasting
  • 1980’s @Virginia– “Viticulture”, Planting Shifted From French Hybrids to Vinifera.
  • 1980’s @America– “French Paradox”, Episode On 60 Minutes Generates Interest In Wine In USA..
  • 1981 @Walla Walla– 1978, Woodward Cabernet Sauvignon Wins Best Wine In America Award.
  • 1982 @Umpqua Valley– Scott Henry, Designs His Trellising System In Umpqua Valley.
  • 1983 @Napa– Robert Mondavi & Philippe de Rothschild Collaborate on Opus One.
  • 1983 @Napa– “Wine Law”, Napa Valley Became California First AVA..
  • 1987 @McMinnville– “Festivals”, First International Pinot Noir Celebration.
  • 1989 @Sonoma– “Economy”, Grapes Become Sonoma County’s Top Revenue Crop.
  • 1990 @Willamette– “Phylloxera”, First Appears In Oregon.
  • 1996 @Umpqua Valley– Oldest Planted Albarino and Tempranillo Vines In America.
  • 2000 @Lake County– “Investment”, Increased In Promoting and Establishing New Vineyards.
  • 2014 @Napa– “Earth Quake”, On August 14, Magnitude 6 Earthquake.

“No One Invented Wine, It Was Discovered.”

3) The ANCIENT WORLD

  • Region Surrounding the Mediterranean Sea and “Near-East”.  This 5,000 Year Time Period That Starts Off Recorded Human History and Goes to Early Middle Ages 476 AD. Finishes with the Fall of Rome.
  • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient World Was Considered Armenia, Asia Minor, Canaan, China, Egypt, Greece, India, Iran, Mesopotamia, Phoenicia, Rome, Sumer.
  • The Number of Different Varietals Were Limit In the Ancient World, the Lower the Income Level, the Less Choices There Were.
  • In Ancient World Sweet Wines Were More Coveted Because Sugar Was Expensive and Not Easily Available, People Were Drawn to Sweets.

“Modern Civilization Began When Man Started to Cultivate Grape-Vines.”

FERTLE CRESCENT/ Cradle of Civilization– A Crescent Shaped Region In Western Middle East Where the First Organized Civilization Were Said to Have Started. The Fertile Crescent Was Made of What is Today Modern Day Southern Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and Northern Egypt.

  • The Fertile Crescent Contained Moist and Fertile Land With Major River In Otherwise Arid Western Asia.
  • GEOGRAPHY- Area Stretching From Northern Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranean Sea Area to the Western Persian Gulf and North of the Syrian Desert.

TRANS-CAUCASUS– Term Used for the Collective Civilization Area of Georgia, Armenia, Turkey, Phoenicia During the Ancient World. The Area Located On the Western Coastal Part of the Fertile Crescent.

  • GOEGRAPHY–
    • Modern Day-
  • HISTORY- This is Where Vitis Vinifera Vine First Appeared and This Are Get Credit For Where Wine Was First Produced.

PHOENICIA– TIME PERIOD– 2300 BC. to 65 BC.

  • GEOGRAPHY- Europe, Eastern Mediterranean Coast
    • Modern Day- Coastal Syria, Lebanon, and Israel(North)
  • CULTURE- As a Sea Fairing Country the Greek Get Credit For Spreading Wine/ Wine Culture Around the Mediterranean Sea/ Basin.
  • HISTORY- Great City Civilization and Maritime Trading Culture of Carthage Established Trading Ports Around Mediterranean Sea at North African Coast, Cadiz, Portugal.
    • Phoenicia Included
  • CARTHAGINIANS–TIME PERIOD– 700 BC. to 200 BC.
    • GEOGRAPHY- Coast of North-West Africa
    • CULTURE-  Dominated Mediterranean Trade Prior to the Romans. As Rome Expanded They Defeated Carthage In the 100’s BC..

MESOPOTAMIA– TIME PERIOD– 3100 BC. to 539  BC.

  • GEOGRAPHY- The Sumerians and Akkadian (Including Assyrians Empires and Babylonian Empire.  Area Surrounding the Tigris & Euphrates River System Bordered by the Zagros Mountains In North-East and Arabian Plateau In South-West
    • Modern Day- Iraq, Syria, Kuwait
    • Mesopotamia Included
  • BABYLON– TIME PERIOD–
    • GEOGRAPHY- In Fertile Crescent, Between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
    • HISTORY- Fall of Babylon took Place In 539 BC.
  • EGYPT– TIME PERIOD–  3500 BC. to 500 BC.
    • GEOGRAPHY- Nile Delta
      • Modern Day- Africa(North)
    • HISTORY– **Refer to “LOCATIONS/ Egypt” For Detailed Information.
    • CULTURE- Wine Often Traded/ Bartered For Grain, Fruit, Livestock.

CONSTANTINOPLE– TIME PERIOD– 500 to 1300

  • GEOGRAPHY-  Boundary Between Europe and Asia, On~Bosporus~River~
    • Modern Day- Transcontinental, Straddles Istanbul, Turkey
  • HISTORY- One Capital of Roman Empire/ Byzantine Empire.
  • CULTURE- Constantinople/ Turkey is Said to Be at the Cross Roads of Europe and Asia.
    • During Constantinople Time Period it Was the Largest and Wealthiest City In Europe.

PERSIA– TIME PERIOD–

  • GEOGRAPHY- Stretched From Egypt In the West to Turkey In the North and Centered Around Modern Day Iran Other Historic Areas of the Modern Day Mediterranean Basin.
  • HISTORY- Series of Imperial Dynasties Centered Around Persia.

ETRUSCANS–TIME PERIOD– 800 BC. to 300

  • GEOGRAPHY- Modern Day Central Italy(Abruzzo, Lazio, Tuscany, Umbria).
  • CULTURE- People Who Occupied Central Italy Before Being Absorbed Into the Empire of Rome.

CELTS GAULS– TIME PERIOD–  400 BC. to 300 AD.

  • GEOGRAPHY- Western Europe
    • Modern Day- Northern-France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Parts of Netherlands and Switzerland.
  • CULTURE- Ancient People and Important Wine Trading Partner, First Barrel Makers. The Celtic Gauls Ruled the Land Before the Rise of Rome.
    • During Ancient Time Wine Was Diluted With 2 to 4 Times as Much Water Then Wine.   Not the Celts/ Gauls Who Were Ridiculed by the Civilized World For Drinking Their Wine Unadulterated. The Supposed Drunkenness of the Celts/ Gauls Lead to Their Barbaric Reputation In History.

GREECE– TIME PERIOD–  1,000 BC. to 300 BC.

  • GEOGRAPHY– Lower Mediterranean Sea
    • Modern Day- Europe, Greece
  • CULTURE- Trade Throughout Eastern Mediterranean Sea.

ROME– TIME PERIOD–  753 BC. to 476

  • GEOGRAPHY- The Mediterranean Sea Borders 3 Continents and Its Waters Have Long Been Instrumental to the Transport and Trade of Wine.
    • Modern Day- Europe, Italy, City of Rome In Lazio
  • VITICULTURE- Romans Planted Vines Where Ever They Conquered.
  • CULTURE- 
    • Romans Influence On the Spread of Viniculture
      • Romans Enthusiastically Spread Wine Throughout Roman Empire, As Rome Conquered New Lands it Would Establishing New Vineyards. This Made Sure There Was Ample Wine For the Soldiers But Also Stimulated the Economy and Moral of the Recently Conquered. France, Germany, Spain All Saw Establishment of Viticulture During the Roman Empire. Rhone River Valley Funneled Viticulture Into France and Rest of Europe, by Fall of Rome 479 AD. All of Great French Vineyards Had Been Planted.
    • Wine & the Church

“I Want to Drink Wines That Have a Reason to Be Interesting, or Understand It’s History.”

4) The ANCIENT WINES

  • Types of Wines That Have Significants Impact Over Wines History.
  • Also a Term For the Search and Discovery of the Origins of Viticulture.
  • VITICULTURE- Most Ancient Wines Were Produced as a Village/ Region and Made In Co-Operitives and Generally Had a Regionally Style or Taste.
  • VINICULTURE- Ancient Wines Had a Tendency to Get Heavily Oxidized.
    • The Greeks Where the Ones Who Really Figured Out That Wine Had to Be Tougher to Withstand Spoilage.  The Style They Produced Was Late Harvest, Drying On Maps, Extended Maceration. All of Which Increased Sugar and Alcohol Which Would Extend Life of Wine.
    • The Greeks Shipped Considerable Volumes of Wine to Present Day France, Egypt, Danube and the Black Sea.
  • CULTURE– Civilized People In the Ancient World Didn’t Drink Their Wine Straight.  Wines Were Diluted With 2 to 4 Times as Much Water as Wine.  Also Wine Was Mixed With Herbs, Rosins, Seawater, Citrus Juice, Chalk.
  • WINE & PHILOSOPHY? “Can We Think of All the Wine From the Ancient Wine as Regional, Meaning a Country or Region Only Produced 1 or 2 Styles of Wine Base On Region or Geography?”
    • “In a Time When There Was Limit Grape Varietals and Wine Making Techniques Regions Usually Produced a Couple or Few Wines That Were Distict to the Local Area They Were Produced.”

WINES Of The ANCIENT WORLD

  • Alban–  Time Period- 1 BC. to 100
    • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient Rome   Modern Day- Albani Hills South-East of Rome.
    • VITICULTURE-  Sweet
    • CULTURE- Consumed by Upper Class, Excellent Reputation/ Quality,
  • Baeterrae–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Gallic  Modern Day- Narbonensis, France
    • VITICULTURE- Enjoyed by the Romans
  • Balearic–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient Rome, Hipania  Modern Day– Balearic Islands, Spain
    • VITICULTURE- Exported Around Mediterranean
    • CULTURE- 1 of 3 Balearic Wines That Had Excellent Reputation/ Quality and Were Exported Around the Mediterranean.
  • Caecuban–  Time Period- 1 BC. to 100
    • GEOGRAPHY-  Ancient Rome. Modern Day- Lazio(East–Coast)
    • VITICULTURE- Sweet
    • CULTURE- Excellent Reputation/ Quality
  • Calenian–
    • GEOGRAPHY-  Ancient Rome, Cales
    • VITICULTURE- Produced From Calenum Grape
  • Chalybonium–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Damascus   Modern Day- Sryia
    • VITICULTURE- Produced From Calenum Grape
  • Chian–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient Greece
    • VITICULTURE- Excellent Reputation/ Quality
  • Falernian–  Time Period- 100 to 400
    • GEOGRAPHY– Ancient Rome   Modern Day- Campania, Mount Falernus
    • VITICULTURE– Produced From Falanghina and Amninean Grape, Full Body Red, One of First Wines to Be Aged.
    • CULTURE– Prized/ Upper Class, Excellent Reputation/ Quality
  • Hippocras–
    • GEOGRAPHY-  Mid-Evil
    • VITICULTURE- Flavored Wine
  • Gauranian–
    • GEOGRAPHY-  Baiae & Puteoli,
    • VITICULTURE- High Quality, Full Bodied
  • Laletani–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient Rome, Hispania    Modern Day- Spain
    • VITICULTURE- Low Quality Wine Produced Form High Yielding Grapes.
    • CULTURE- Lower Class
  • Lauron–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient Rome, Hispania   Modern Day– Balearic Islands, Spain
    • VITICULTURE- Wine Exported Around Mediterranean.
    • CULTURE- 1 of 3 Balearic Wines That Had Excellent Reputation/ Quality and Were Exported Around the Mediterranean.
  • Lesbian–
    • GEOGRAPHY-  Ancient Greece   Modern Day- Lesbos Island &  Mytilene Island
    • VITICULTURE- Considered a Light Wine.
  • Lora–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient Rome
    • VITICULTURE- Skins Soaked In Water, Fermented
    • CULTURE- Consumed by Slaves, Lower Class
  • Mareoticum–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient Egypt, Alexandria
    • VITICULTURE- White, Sweet, Light
  • Massic– 
    • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient Rome  Modern Day- Campania, Naples
    • VITICULTURE- Reputation For Being Low Quality.
    • CULTURE- Consumed by Lower Class
  • Mustum– 
    • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient Rome
    • VITICULTURE- Mixed With Vinegar and Drank Fresh After Pressing.
  • Mulsum–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient Rome
    • VITICULTURE- Sweetened With Honey
    • CULTURE- Consumed by Lower Class.
  • Neheleschol–
    • GEOGRAPHY-  Verona/ Pre Alps
    • VITICULTURE- Wines Drunk Throughout Italy.
  • Passum–
    • GEOGRAPHY-  Ancient Rome, Modern Day– Crete, Greece
    • VITICULTURE- Sweet From Completely Dried Grapes.
    • CULTURE- Excellent Reputation/ Quality
  • Posca–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient Rome
    • VINICULTURE- Vinegar Like Wine, Mixed With Water Reduce Bitterness.
    • CULTURE- Wines Consumed by Soldiers, Lower Class.
  • Rhaetic–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient Rome  Modern Day- Veneto
    • VITICULTURE- Sweet
  • Setinum–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient Rome  Modern Day- Lazio
    • VITICULTURE- Sweet/ Sweet +Abv.
    • CULTURE- Wines Consumed by Upper Class/ Excellent Reputation/ Quality.
  • Surrentine–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient Rome  Modern Day- Compania, Bay of Naples
    • VITICULTURE- One of the First Wine Capable of Aging.
    • CULTURE- Wines Consumed by Middle Class.
  • Taenioticum–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Egypt, West Nile Delta
    • VITICULTURE- Aromatic, Astringent
  • Tarraco–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient Rome, Hispania  Modern Day- Balearic Islands, Spain
    • VITICULTURE- Wines Exported Around Mediterranean.
    • CULTURE- 1 of 3 Balearic Wines That Had Excellent Reputation/ Quality and Were Exported Around the Mediterranean.
  • Vinum Dulce–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient Rome
    • VITICULTURE- Sweet Wine Produced From Dried Grapes
  • Vinum Diachytum–
    • GEOGRAPHY- Ancient Rome
    • VITICULTURE- Vinum Dulce But Grapes Dried Longer In Sun.

OLDEST WINERIES Of The WORLD

  • 862 @Germany– “Staffelter Hof”, Winery Established
  • 1000 @France– “Chateau de Goulaine”, Winery Established
  • 862 @Germany– “Schloss Johanisberg”, Winery Established In Rheingau.
  • 1141 @Italy– “Barone Ricasoli”, Winery Established In Tuscany.
  • 1180 @Italy– “Antinori”, Winery Established In Tuscany.
  • 1211 @Germany– “Schloss Vollrads”, Winery Established In Rheingau.
  • 1308 @Italy– “Frescobaldi”, Winery Established In Tuscany.
  • 1335 @Germany– “Karthauserhof”, Winery Established In Mosel
  • 1548 @Spain– “Can Bonastre”, Winery Established In..
  • 1548 @Spain– “Codorniu”, Winery Established In..
  • 1552 @Switzerland– “Foniallaz”, Winery Established In…
  • 1574 @France– “Dopff-Au-Moulin”, Winery Established In…
  • 1597 @Mexico– “Casa Madero”, Winery Established In…
  • 1678 @South Africa– “Boschendal”, Winery Established In…
  • 1682 @South Africa– “Rustenberg”, Winery Established In…
  • WINE & PHILOSOPHY?  “Did Wine and Beer Save All of Humanity?”
    • “In the Ancient World the Two Main Causes of Death Was Hunger and Dysentery. With the Threat of Deadly Water You Had to Drink Wine or Beer or Die.  In Times of Plague and Disease Epidemics Wine Was the Solution. Wine Will Sterilize Water With Bacteria In it.”

“History Has Always Had an Great Influence On Wines and Their Regions, One Should Always Seek Historical Context and the Wines Backstory.”

FOOD & AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

  • Agricultural Heritage Systems Ca Be Found All Over the World. Characteristically These Systems Are Rich In Agricultural Biodiversity and. Associated Production Are Important Resources to the Economy and the Indigenous Knowledge and Culture of Its People.
  • ~Important Agricultural Heritage Systems~ Cultivation of Muscatel Grapes In Malaga
  • ~Important Agricultural Heritage Systems~ Soave Traditional Vineyards

**Refer to “BIBLIOGRAPHY/ Sources” For Details On Scholarly Works Referenced.